--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowledge is a polite word for dead but…" description: "\"Knowledge is a polite word for dead but not buried imagination.\" — e. e. cummings" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/e-e-cummings-2586_buried_knowledge-is-a-polite-word-for-dead-but_2687545.png" --- # Knowledge is a polite word for dead but not buried… ![“Knowledge is a polite word for dead but not buried imagination.” quote by e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/e-e-cummings-2586_buried_knowledge-is-a-polite-word-for-dead-but_2687545.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/e-e-cummings-2586_buried_knowledge-is-a-polite-word-for-dead-but_2687545.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/e-e-cummings-2586_buried_knowledge-is-a-polite-word-for-dead-but_2687545.png) > “Knowledge is a polite word for dead but not buried imagination.” [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imagination that is ignored or dismissed is effectively dead, even if it still exists internally. **In simple terms:** Ignored imagination is dead. Key Takeaway Value and nurture creative thoughts. Themes creativity imagination neglect Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - artistic pursuits - education - mental health - innovation Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor unseen ideas? - What happens when imagination is suppressed? A Different Perspective Even unseen ideas can influence subtly; they are not truly dead. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buried/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Polite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-polite-2631133/) [Polite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polite/) [Polite Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polite-word-2631134/) ## Related quotes > [Nobody ever invented a polite word for a killing yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-ritter/nobody-ever-invented-a-polite-word-for-a-killing-yet/) [Thelma Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-ritter/) > [Troubled is a polite word for what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle/troubled-is-a-polite-word-for-what-i-am/) [Gabrielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle/) > [Discretion is the polite word for hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-keeler/discretion-is-the-polite-word-for-hypocrisy/) [Christine Keeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-keeler/) > [one day anyone died i guess (and noone stooped to kiss his face) busy folk buried them side by side little by little and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/one-day-anyone-died-i-guess-and-noone-stooped-to-kiss-his-face-busy/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [“In general, poor is polite and rich is rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-general-poor-is-polite-and-rich-is-rude/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I found something" Simon said as he walked in. He whipped out an old-fashioned key from his pocket and grinned at me. "It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-found-something-simon-said-as-he-walked-in-he-whipped-out-an-old/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“The definition of a professional is one who does a job well even when they don't like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sheinwald/the-definition-of-a-professional-is-one-who-does-a-job-well-even-when/) [Alan Sheinwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sheinwald/) > [The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-true-sign-of-intelligence-is-not-knowledge-but-imagination/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Normally when people say they haven't decided, they're being polite but they're definitely not voting for you. I think it's different this time. 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A mystery is something immeasurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/art-is-a-mystery-a-mystery-is-something-immeasurable/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [one day anyone died i guess (and noone stooped to kiss his face) busy folk buried them side by side little by little and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/one-day-anyone-died-i-guess-and-noone-stooped-to-kiss-his-face-busy/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [“sweet spring is your time is my time is our time for springtime is lovetime and viva sweet love (all the merry little birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/sweet-spring-is-your-time-is-my-time-is-our-time-for-springtime-is/) [E. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) [Explore all 159 e. e. cummings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) ## More Buried quotes > [Palindrome as well. My sister's name is Hannah. 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