--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't be afraid of poetry." description: "\"“Don't be afraid of poetry.”\" — Clifton Fadiman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e44/clifton-fadiman-11053_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-of-poetry-372395_372395.jpg" --- # Don't be afraid of poetry. ![“Don't be afraid of poetry.” quote by Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e44/clifton-fadiman-11053_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-of-poetry-372395_372395.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e44/clifton-fadiman-11053_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-of-poetry-372395_372395.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e44/clifton-fadiman-11053_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-of-poetry-372395_372395.jpg) > ““Don't be afraid of poetry.”” [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetry should not be feared; it offers insight and emotional depth. **In simple terms:** Embrace poetry without fear. Key Takeaway Read poetry regularly. Themes literature emotion creativity self‑reflection Mood inspirational thoughtful Type literary motivational When to use this quote - school curricula - personal journals - public readings - therapy sessions Key Concepts poetic form metaphor rhythm Questions to Reflect On - What emotions does a poem evoke for you? - How can poetry be made more relatable? A Different Perspective Some may find poetry inaccessible or overly abstract. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-poetry-1411329/) [Don Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-afraid/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poems/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [I worry very much that people won't like it, or will think it's simply silly. But I have a post-it note above my desk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodora-goss/i-worry-very-much-that-people-won-t-like-it-or-will-think-it-s-simply/) [Theodora Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodora-goss/) > [I think many people love poetry who don't know they love it. 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(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/) > [“She conquered her demons and wore her scars like wings. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/she-conquered-her-demons-and-wore-her-scars-like-wings/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [“It was her chaos that made her beautiful. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/it-was-her-chaos-that-made-her-beautiful/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [“Without pain, poetry is not possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seerat/without-pain-poetry-is-not-possible/) [seerat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seerat/) ## More by Clifton Fadiman > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. 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I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. 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