Admire Quote by Dorianne Laux
“You are not your poetry. Your self-esteem shouldn't depend on whether you publish, or whether some editor or writer you admire thinks you're any good.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Conversation with Dorianne Laux, The Paris Review, 2015
Self-worth should be intrinsic, not tied to external validation or publication.
In simple terms: Value yourself beyond others' opinions.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate internal confidence regardless of praise.
Themes
self‑esteem
creativity
validation
Mood
reflective
encouraging
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- social media
- career setbacks
- personal journaling
Key Concepts
psychology
artistic identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What internal markers define your worth?
- How can you separate identity from artistic output?
A Different Perspective
External feedback can still impact confidence.
![“It's difficult to talk about [W.S.] Merwin's poems, as it's hard to talk about a feeling or a smell. It is what it is, but so much so that it overwhelms both sense and the senses. I aspire to something about his work, that imbues his poems, though I'm not sure I could say what that is. A purity…” quote by Dorianne Laux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8c1/dorianne-laux-12252_aspire_it-s-difficult-to-talk-about-w-s-merwin_654128.jpg)
