--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must all teach ourselves to be fine…" description: "\"We must all teach ourselves to be fine, to be poets.\" — Charles Webster Hawthorne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/charles-webster-hawthorne-1729_education_we-must-all-teach-ourselves-to-be-fine-t_1057497.png" --- # We must all teach ourselves to be fine, to be poets. ![“We must all teach ourselves to be fine, to be poets.” quote by Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/charles-webster-hawthorne-1729_education_we-must-all-teach-ourselves-to-be-fine-t_1057497.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/charles-webster-hawthorne-1729_education_we-must-all-teach-ourselves-to-be-fine-t_1057497.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/charles-webster-hawthorne-1729_education_we-must-all-teach-ourselves-to-be-fine-t_1057497.png) > “We must all teach ourselves to be fine, to be poets.” [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We need to cultivate sensitivity and creativity within ourselves, not rely on external validation. **In simple terms:** Learn to be artistic and self‑reliant. Key Takeaway Practice daily observation and expression. Themes self‑development creativity education Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - writing workshops - personal journaling - creative retreats - mindful observation Key Concepts artistic sensitivity self‑reliance Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance artistic growth with everyday responsibilities? - What daily habit nurtures your inner poet? A Different Perspective May overlook practical skills needed for livelihood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Fine Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-poets-2563694/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-fine-2563695/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) ## Related quotes > [Defeat furnishes good material to the poets and the artists, but none of us care to have the glory of the conquered apply to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/defeat-furnishes-good-material-to-the-poets-and-the-artists-but-none/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [This is the nature of love." Vashet said. "To attempt to describe it will drive a woman mad. This is what keeps poets scribbling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/this-is-the-nature-of-love-vashet-said-to-attempt-to-describe-it-will/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [The poets have familiarized more people with history than have the historians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/the-poets-have-familiarized-more-people-with-history-than-have-the/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [Shelley and Keats were the last English poets who were at all up to date in their chemical knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-s-haldane/shelley-and-keats-were-the-last-english-poets-who-were-at-all-up-to/) [John B. S. Haldane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-s-haldane/) > [It is not the poet's business to save man's soul but to make it worth saving . . . However, few poets have written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-elroy-flecker/it-is-not-the-poet-s-business-to-save-man-s-soul-but-to-make-it-worth/) [James Elroy Flecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-elroy-flecker/) > [Poets who are not interested in music are, or become, bad poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/poets-who-are-not-interested-in-music-are-or-become-bad-poets/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“Don’t let the bad times get you down, You have some of those moments where life tells you, it’s time to cry. Without those,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-mcdaniel-on-the-savage-side/don-t-let-the-bad-times-get-you-down-you-have-some-of-those-moments/) [Tiffany McDaniel, On the Savage Side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-mcdaniel-on-the-savage-side/) > [Keelhaul the poets in the vestry chairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-shapiro/keelhaul-the-poets-in-the-vestry-chairs/) [Karl Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-shapiro/) > [Knowledge and increase of enduring joy From the great Nature that exists in works Of mighty Poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/knowledge-and-increase-of-enduring-joy-from-the-great-nature-that/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [ Neither men, nor gods, nor booksellers' shelves permit ordinary poets to exist. \[Lat., Mediocribus esse poetis Non homines, non di, non concessere columnae.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/neither-men-nor-gods-nor-booksellers-shelves-permit-ordinary-poets-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [There were so many Pittsburgh poets in my hallway that if, at that instant, a meteorite had come smashing through my roof, there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/there-were-so-many-pittsburgh-poets-in-my-hallway-that-if-at-that/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [ “\[poems are\] crystals deposited after the effervescent contact of the spirit with reality. (cristaux deposes apres l'effervescent contact de l'esprit avec la realite)” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-reverdy/poems-are-crystals-deposited-after-the-effervescent-contact-of-the/) [Pierre Reverdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-reverdy/) > [One of my favorite poets, Neruda, writes close to the bone. Though I know only a little Spanish, I like to compare the Spanish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/one-of-my-favorite-poets-neruda-writes-close-to-the-bone-though-i/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [The best poets, after all, exhibit only a tame and civil side of nature. They have not seen the west side of any mountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-best-poets-after-all-exhibit-only-a-tame-and-civil-side-of-nature/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Charles Webster Hawthorne > [ It is so hard and long before a student comes to a realization that these \[first\] few large simple spots in right relations are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/it-is-so-hard-and-long-before-a-student-comes-to-a-realization-that/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [Painting is just like making an after-dinner speech. If you want to be remembered, say one thing and stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/painting-is-just-like-making-an-after-dinner-speech-if-you-want-to-be/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [Spend a lifetime in hard work with a humble mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/spend-a-lifetime-in-hard-work-with-a-humble-mind/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [To see things simply is the hardest thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/to-see-things-simply-is-the-hardest-thing-in-the-world/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [Do studies, not pictures. Know when you are licked - start another. Be alive, stop when your interest is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/do-studies-not-pictures-know-when-you-are-licked-start-another-be/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [A sketch has charm because of its truth - not because it is unfinished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/a-sketch-has-charm-because-of-its-truth-not-because-it-is-unfinished/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [Avoid distant views, paint objects close up. If the foreground is well done the distance will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/avoid-distant-views-paint-objects-close-up-if-the-foreground-is-well/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [Paint what you see, not what you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/paint-what-you-see-not-what-you-know/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [In his attempt to develop the beauty he sees, the artist develops himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/in-his-attempt-to-develop-the-beauty-he-sees-the-artist-develops/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [Try to do ugly things so that you make them beautiful... The more delicate the thing is in nature the more one must look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/try-to-do-ugly-things-so-that-you-make-them-beautiful-the-more/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [Do not let it look as if you reasoned too much. Painting must be impulsive to be worth while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/do-not-let-it-look-as-if-you-reasoned-too-much-painting-must-be/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [By having the big lines of the composition going out of the canvas, your imagination can wander beyond the edge. It will make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/by-having-the-big-lines-of-the-composition-going-out-of-the-canvas/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [Get into the habit of doing what you see, not what you know. Human reason cannot foresee the accidents of out-of-doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/get-into-the-habit-of-doing-what-you-see-not-what-you-know-human/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [The mechanics of putting one spot of color next to another, that is the fundamental thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/the-mechanics-of-putting-one-spot-of-color-next-to-another-that-is/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [If you look into the past of the successful painter you will find square miles of canvas behind him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/if-you-look-into-the-past-of-the-successful-painter-you-will-find/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) [Explore all 37 Charles Webster Hawthorne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) [Ioannes Amos Commenius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioannes-amos-commenius/) > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) [H.D. (Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-hilda-doolittle/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must all teach ourselves to be fine, to be poets.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Webster Hawthorne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/we-must-all-teach-ourselves-to-be-fine-to-be-poets/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Education" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/we-must-all-teach-ourselves-to-be-fine-to-be-poets/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/charles-webster-hawthorne-1729_education_we-must-all-teach-ourselves-to-be-fine-t_1057497.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/charles-webster-hawthorne-1729_education_we-must-all-teach-ourselves-to-be-fine-t_1057497.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/730/charles-webster-hawthorne-1729_education_we-must-all-teach-ourselves-to-be-fine-t_1057497.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must all teach ourselves to be fine, to be poets.” — Charles Webster Hawthorne", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charles Webster Hawthorne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We must all teach ourselves to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/we-must-all-teach-ourselves-to-be-fine-to-be-poets/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/we-must-all-teach-ourselves-to-be-fine-to-be-poets/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```