--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Affliction is more apt to suffocate the…" description: "\"Affliction is more apt to suffocate the imagination than to stimulate it.\" — Denise Levertov" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/denise-levertov-4487_affliction_affliction-is-more-apt-to-suffocate-the_602055.png" --- # Affliction is more apt to suffocate the imagination than… ![“Affliction is more apt to suffocate the imagination than to stimulate it.” quote by Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/denise-levertov-4487_affliction_affliction-is-more-apt-to-suffocate-the_602055.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/denise-levertov-4487_affliction_affliction-is-more-apt-to-suffocate-the_602055.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/denise-levertov-4487_affliction_affliction-is-more-apt-to-suffocate-the_602055.png) > “Affliction is more apt to suffocate the imagination than to stimulate it.” [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative imagination is stifled by suffering more than it is sparked. **In simple terms:** Suffering blocks imagination. Key Takeaway Recognize and address personal suffering. Themes creativity mental health imagination pain Mood reflective melancholic Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - creative workshops - personal reflection Key Concepts Psychology artistic expression philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Can hardship ever inspire creativity? - How do you transform pain into art? A Different Perspective Not all suffering is detrimental; some fuels art. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) [Affliction Apt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction-apt-4906538/) [Encouragement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouragement/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Imagination Stimulate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination-stimulate-4906537/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Suffocate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffocate/) [Suffocate Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffocate-imagination-4906536/) ## Related quotes > [The more you cling to what was, the more you suffocate the life out of this moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-you-cling-to-what-was-the-more-you-suffocate-the-life-out-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The father figure is something I love, but also suffocate from and want to work against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/the-father-figure-is-something-i-love-but-also-suffocate-from-and/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [A man can suffocate on courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-man-can-suffocate-on-courtesy/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Words know how to suffocate lies to exhale the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/words-know-how-to-suffocate-lies-to-exhale-the-truth/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [“I woke up in the middle of the night suffocating and gasping for breath. After a minute or so of difficulty breathing, I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-woke-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-suffocating-and-gasping-for/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Physics extra credit: What should you do if you are stuck on frictionless ice? Assume you are nude and there is no atmospheric resistance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-woolston/physics-extra-credit-what-should-you-do-if-you-are-stuck-on/) [Blythe Woolston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-woolston/) > [Always be your husband's best friend, make him laugh and give him a little bit of freedom - you can't suffocate him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roselyn-sanchez/always-be-your-husband-s-best-friend-make-him-laugh-and-give-him-a/) [Roselyn Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roselyn-sanchez/) > [“To schedule life is to miss it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-schedule-life-is-to-miss-it/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“You put your own joy in prison if you work hard to make other people’s happiness suffocate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-put-your-own-joy-in-prison-if-you-work-hard-to-make-other-people/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Smile, so your teeth won't suffocate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-evans/smile-so-your-teeth-won-t-suffocate/) [Katherine Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-evans/) > [It's just so nice when your pet isn't all needy. I need a lot of space, so dogs suffocate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerli/it-s-just-so-nice-when-your-pet-isn-t-all-needy-i-need-a-lot-of-space/) [Kerli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerli/) > [So sorrie I suffocate you... It must feel like I hate you! x'D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-merrow/so-sorrie-i-suffocate-you-it-must-feel-like-i-hate-you-x-d/) [James Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-merrow/) > [“What would I do without you to give me clarity?" "I imagine you'd suffocate yourself by shoving your head too far up your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kady-cross/what-would-i-do-without-you-to-give-me-clarity-i-imagine-you-d/) [Kady Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kady-cross/) > [You can suffocate a thought by expressing it with too many words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/you-can-suffocate-a-thought-by-expressing-it-with-too-many-words/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [“An aching vacuum inside her sucking the air from her lungs. She hung her head and wept fiercely, the emptiness inside her growing larger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-brennert/an-aching-vacuum-inside-her-sucking-the-air-from-her-lungs-she-hung/) [Alan Brennert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-brennert/) ## More by Denise Levertov > [Death and pain dominate this world, for though many are cured, they leave still weak, still tremulous, still knowing mortality has whispered to them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-though-many-are-cured-they/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [The artist must create himself or be born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/the-artist-must-create-himself-or-be-born-again/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I believe every space and comma is a living part of the poem and has its function, just as every muscle and pore of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-believe-every-space-and-comma-is-a-living-part-of-the-poem-and-has/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [Each part of speech a spark awaiting redemption, each a virtue, a power in abeyance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/each-part-of-speech-a-spark-awaiting-redemption-each-a-virtue-a-power/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [It is fatal to one's artistic life to talk about something this is in process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/it-is-fatal-to-one-s-artistic-life-to-talk-about-something-this-is-in/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [If woman is inconstant, good, I am faithful to ebb and flow, I fall in season and now is a time of ripening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/if-woman-is-inconstant-good-i-am-faithful-to-ebb-and-flow-i-fall-in/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [Putting his hope in certain death, lowering his head again to the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/putting-his-hope-in-certain-death-lowering-his-head-again-to-the-grass/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [slowly the pale dew-beads of light lapped up from flowers can thicken, darken to gold: honey of the human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/slowly-the-pale-dew-beads-of-light-lapped-up-from-flowers-can-thicken/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [“I am, a shadow that grows longer as the sun moves, drawn out on a thread of wonder. If I bear burdens they begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-am-a-shadow-that-grows-longer-as-the-sun-moves-drawn-out-on-a/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [In city, in suburb, in forest, no way to stretch out the arms - so if you would grow, go straight up or deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/in-city-in-suburb-in-forest-no-way-to-stretch-out-the-arms-so-if-you/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I like to find what's not found at once, but lies within something of another nature, in repose, distinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-like-to-find-what-s-not-found-at-once-but-lies-within-something-of/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [There is no savor more sweet, more salt than to be glad to be what, woman, and who, myself, I am...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/there-is-no-savor-more-sweet-more-salt-than-to-be-glad-to-be-what/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [This wild night, gathering the washing as if it were flowers animal vines twisting over theline and slapping my face lightly, soundless merriment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/this-wild-night-gathering-the-washing-as-if-it-were-flowers-animal/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [The fire in leaf and grass so green it seems each summer the last summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/the-fire-in-leaf-and-grass-so-green-it-seems-each-summer-the-last/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I see him across the street, the blind man, and now he says he can find his way. He knows where he is going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-see-him-across-the-street-the-blind-man-and-now-he-says-he-can-find/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) [Explore all 110 Denise Levertov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) ## More Affliction quotes > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-man-will-have-his-own-criterion-in-forming-his-judgment-of/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-nothing-in-afflictions-which-ought-to-disturb-our-joy/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Henceforth, I'll bear Affliction till it do cry out itself, 'Enough, enough, and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/henceforth-i-ll-bear-affliction-till-it-do-cry-out-itself-enough/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [New materials are one of the great afflictions of contemporary art. Some artists confuse new materials with new ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-lewitt/new-materials-are-one-of-the-great-afflictions-of-contemporary-art/) [Sol LeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-lewitt/) > [Aimee Parkison offers a distinct new voice to contemporary fiction. Her seductive stories explore childhood as a realm of sorrows, and reveal the afflictions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-anshaw/aimee-parkison-offers-a-distinct-new-voice-to-contemporary-fiction/) [Carol Anshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-anshaw/) > [May I strike my heart's keys clearly, and may none fail because of slack, uncertain, or fraying strings. May the tears that stream down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/may-i-strike-my-heart-s-keys-clearly-and-may-none-fail-because-of/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [We are infinitely more than our limitations and afflictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/we-are-infinitely-more-than-our-limitations-and-afflictions/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [God measures out affliction to our need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/god-measures-out-affliction-to-our-need/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/afflictions-make-the-heart-more-deep-more-experimental-more-knowing/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Religion prescribes to every miserable man the means of bettering his condition; nay, it shows him that the bearing of his afflictions as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/religion-prescribes-to-every-miserable-man-the-means-of-bettering-his/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Short-term amnesia is not the worst affliction if you have an Irish flair for the sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/short-term-amnesia-is-not-the-worst-affliction-if-you-have-an-irish/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Revolution will free society of its afflictions, while science will free the individual of his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/revolution-will-free-society-of-its-afflictions-while-science-will/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) [Browse all 598 Affliction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Affliction is more apt to suffocate the imagination than to stimulate it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Denise Levertov" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/affliction-is-more-apt-to-suffocate-the-imagination-than-to-stimulate/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affliction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/affliction-is-more-apt-to-suffocate-the-imagination-than-to-stimulate/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/denise-levertov-4487_affliction_affliction-is-more-apt-to-suffocate-the_602055.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/denise-levertov-4487_affliction_affliction-is-more-apt-to-suffocate-the_602055.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/denise-levertov-4487_affliction_affliction-is-more-apt-to-suffocate-the_602055.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Affliction is more apt to suffocate the imagination than to stimulate it.” — Denise Levertov", "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": "Denise Levertov", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Affliction is more apt to suffocate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/affliction-is-more-apt-to-suffocate-the-imagination-than-to-stimulate/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/affliction-is-more-apt-to-suffocate-the-imagination-than-to-stimulate/#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 } } ] } ```