--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it was W.H. Auden who said he was…" description: "\"I think it was W.H. Auden who said he was lucky that his first favorite poet was Thomas Hardy, who was a good but not a great poet, because if you are ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/david-duchovny-1754_auden_i-think-it-was-w-h-auden-who-said-he-was_2009928.jpg" --- # I think it was W.H. Auden who said he was lucky that his… ![“I think it was W.H. Auden who said he was lucky that his first favorite poet was Thomas Hardy, who was a good but not a great poet, because if you are exposed to the greats too soon it can just squash you as a writer.” quote by David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/david-duchovny-1754_auden_i-think-it-was-w-h-auden-who-said-he-was_2009928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/david-duchovny-1754_auden_i-think-it-was-w-h-auden-who-said-he-was_2009928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/david-duchovny-1754_auden_i-think-it-was-w-h-auden-who-said-he-was_2009928.jpg) > “I think it was W.H. Auden who said he was lucky that his first favorite poet was Thomas Hardy, who was a good but not a great poet, because if you are exposed to the greats too soon it can just squash you as a writer.” [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early exposure to highly acclaimed artists can intimidate emerging creators, limiting their confidence and originality. **In simple terms:** Great poets early can stifle new writers. Key Takeaway Seek diverse influences, not just the best. Themes creativity confidence influence Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice observational When to use this quote - writing workshops - college literature classes - personal journaling - mentor discussions Key Concepts psychology developmental literature Questions to Reflect On - How does early admiration affect your own work? - What balance of influence helps you grow? A Different Perspective Not all writers feel crushed; some thrive on high standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auden/) [Great poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-poet/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think Auden liked my poetry very much, he's very Anglican.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-smith/i-don-t-think-auden-liked-my-poetry-very-much-he-s-very-anglican/) [Stevie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-smith/) > [The fact is, there is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may stand today if it isn’t the family. If you don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/the-fact-is-there-is-no-foundation-no-secure-ground-upon-which-people-2/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“In the shadow of skyscrapers, half-nude men in dugouts cast nets into the lagoon. The work of arms and shoulders. I think of Auden’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/in-the-shadow-of-skyscrapers-half-nude-men-in-dugouts-cast-nets-into/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) > [William Blake is my favorite poet of all time, and he said that he wasn't quite familiar with the sounds of music. If so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-clementine/william-blake-is-my-favorite-poet-of-all-time-and-he-said-that-he/) [Benjamin Clementine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-clementine/) > [“Must be going crazy--- my favorite poet lately has been me!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-kaumualii-westlake/must-be-going-crazy-my-favorite-poet-lately-has-been-me/) Wayne Kaumualii Westlake > [“Few poets better convey the uneasy transition from Victorianism to Modernism than Thomas Hardy. His novels, written between 1870 and 1895, made him not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-carter/few-poets-better-convey-the-uneasy-transition-from-victorianism-to/) [Ronald Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-carter/) > [“I must assume that knowing is better than not know, venturing better than not venturing; and that magic and illusion, however rich, however alluring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/i-must-assume-that-knowing-is-better-than-not-know-venturing-better/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [“We late-lamented, resting here, Are mixed to human jam, And each to each exclaims in fear, ‘I know not which I am!’ ” —Thomas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-crombie/we-late-lamented-resting-here-are-mixed-to-human-jam-and-each-to-each/) [Deborah Crombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-crombie/) > [“Haunting the library as a kid, reading poetry books when I was not reading bird books, I had been astonished at how often birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenn-kaufman/haunting-the-library-as-a-kid-reading-poetry-books-when-i-was-not/) [Kenn Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenn-kaufman/) > [“When I mentioned to a friend I was writing a book about eggs he told me to be sure to mention how in Thomas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-birkhead/when-i-mentioned-to-a-friend-i-was-writing-a-book-about-eggs-he-told/) [Tim Birkhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-birkhead/) > [“The Convergence of the Twain Thomas Hardy, 1840 - 1928 (Lines on the loss of the “Titanic”) I In a solitude of the sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/the-convergence-of-the-twain-thomas-hardy-1840-1928-lines-on-the-loss/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“West Country novelist Thomas Hardy almost did not survive his birth in 1840 because everyone thought he was stillborn. He did not appear to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mason/west-country-novelist-thomas-hardy-almost-did-not-survive-his-birth/) Phil Mason > [“I The moving sun-shapes on the spray, The sparkles where the brook was flowing, Pink faces, plightings, moonlit May, These were the things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/i-the-moving-sun-shapes-on-the-spray-the-sparkles-where-the-brook-was/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [“During any prolonged activity one tends to forget original intentions. But I believe that, when making a start on A Month in the Country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-carr/during-any-prolonged-activity-one-tends-to-forget-original-intentions/) [J.L. Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-carr/) > [ “Stilletos of a frozen stillicide \[...\] In the lovely line heading this comment the reader should note the last word. My dictionary defines it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/stilletos-of-a-frozen-stillicide-in-the-lovely-line-heading-this/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) ## More by David Duchovny > [My whole life, I've wanted things before I was ready. I was always pushing for the next job, the next success. I was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/my-whole-life-i-ve-wanted-things-before-i-was-ready-i-was-always/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [ I would say recently I've gotten back to perusing \[Samuel\] Beckett's novels. Listening to the way Donald Trump speaks without saying anything has made… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-would-say-recently-i-ve-gotten-back-to-perusing-samuel-beckett-s/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I got married a bit late, I agree. In any other period of history I'd have been dead at that age and they'd have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-got-married-a-bit-late-i-agree-in-any-other-period-of-history-i-d/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Our country was founded on a distrust of government. Our founding fathers gave power to the people to keep an eye on government. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/our-country-was-founded-on-a-distrust-of-government-our-founding/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I still feel like I haven't grown up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-still-feel-like-i-haven-t-grown-up/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [It's not someone else's responsibility to honor my marriage. It's my responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/it-s-not-someone-else-s-responsibility-to-honor-my-marriage-it-s-my/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Fame does lead to money, which I don't have a close relationship with. I'm the kind of guy who never sees the money -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/fame-does-lead-to-money-which-i-don-t-have-a-close-relationship-with/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I like my computer. But I don't know how to use it as well as the 10-year-old daughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-like-my-computer-but-i-don-t-know-how-to-use-it-as-well-as-the-10/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Maybe the best things about celebrity are the things like being able to get that seat on the plane that you wouldn't normally get,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/maybe-the-best-things-about-celebrity-are-the-things-like-being-able/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [“Of course I’m biased, what else could I be? Bias makes the world go round, sometimes a little too fast.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/of-course-i-m-biased-what-else-could-i-be-bias-makes-the-world-go/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > ['The X-Files,' as I recall, we didn't know really what we were until the middle of the first year. You know, so if we'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/the-x-files-as-i-recall-we-didn-t-know-really-what-we-were-until-the/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I always dreamt of being a basketball player. A dream that only I believed in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-always-dreamt-of-being-a-basketball-player-a-dream-that-only-i/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Well, I still write poetry, but I wouldn't call myself a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/well-i-still-write-poetry-but-i-wouldn-t-call-myself-a-poet/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I'm not reading currently because I'm getting revisions of a novel. If I read while I'm writing I will unconsciously plagiarize and go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-m-not-reading-currently-because-i-m-getting-revisions-of-a-novel-if/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [Anxiety is part of creativity, the need to get something out, the need to be rid of something or to get in touch with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/anxiety-is-part-of-creativity-the-need-to-get-something-out-the-need/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) [Explore all 211 David Duchovny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) ## More Auden quotes > [Books should confuse. Literature abhors the typical. Literature flows to the particular, the mundane, the greasiness of paper, the taste of warm beer, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/books-should-confuse-literature-abhors-the-typical-literature-flows/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [“As Auden is believed to have said, no poem saved a single Jew from the gas chambers. Never mind. Write the poems anyway. Play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/as-auden-is-believed-to-have-said-no-poem-saved-a-single-jew-from-the/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [One way or another, all the poets of the thirties and forties reacted to Auden, either by rejecting him or trying to absorb him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/one-way-or-another-all-the-poets-of-the-thirties-and-forties-reacted/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [Auden, who asked two things of an imagined world-that it be somehow like ours and somehow unlike-would be Ben Marcus's ideal reader, yet even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-howard/auden-who-asked-two-things-of-an-imagined-world-that-it-be-somehow/) [Richard Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-howard/) > [You searched through all my poets, From Sappho through to Auden, I saw the book fall from your hands, As you slowly died of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/you-searched-through-all-my-poets-from-sappho-through-to-auden-i-saw/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“Almost, I thought. Out loud I said, "Just because we don't see eye to eye on everything doesn't mean we can't be close. Auden”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/almost-i-thought-out-loud-i-said-just-because-we-don-t-see-eye-to-eye/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [The most conspicuous thing about suffering is, as W.H. Auden once observed, its banality. The day is green, the sun is shinging, someone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/the-most-conspicuous-thing-about-suffering-is-as-w-h-auden-once/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [“Dismantle the sun, pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods: For nothing now can ever come to any good…” The poem by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-ryan/dismantle-the-sun-pour-away-the-ocean-and-sweep-up-the-woods-for/) [Lori Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-ryan/) > [Auden is a poet - no, the poet - of unembarrassed intellect. Ideas are his emotions, emotions are his ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/auden-is-a-poet-no-the-poet-of-unembarrassed-intellect-ideas-are-his/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [Auden said poetry makes nothing happen. But I wonder if the opposite could be true. It could make something happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/auden-said-poetry-makes-nothing-happen-but-i-wonder-if-the-opposite/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [W. H. Auden once suggested that to understand your own country you need to have lived in at least two others. One can say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mortimer/w-h-auden-once-suggested-that-to-understand-your-own-country-you-need/) [Ian Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mortimer/) > [Mad Ireland hurt you into poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mad-ireland-hurt-you-into-poetry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The lyric abstrusities of Auden ring mystically down the circular canals of my ear and it begins to look like snow. The good gray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/the-lyric-abstrusities-of-auden-ring-mystically-down-the-circular/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [The high-water mark, so to speak, of Socialist literature is W.H. Auden, a sort of gutless Kipling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-high-water-mark-so-to-speak-of-socialist-literature-is-w-h-auden/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“Why should I even bother? What's the point, really?" He thought for a moment. "Who says there has to be a point?" he asked.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/why-should-i-even-bother-what-s-the-point-really-he-thought-for-a/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) [Browse all 35 Auden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auden/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it was W.H. 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