Poetry Quote by G.K. Chesterton
““It is you who are unpoetical," replied the poet Syme. "If what you say of clerks is true, they can only be as prosaic as your poetry. The rare, strange thing is to hit the mark; the gross, obvious thing is to miss it. We feel it is epical when man with one wild arrow strikes a distant bird. Is it not also epical when man with one wild engine strikes a distant station? Chaos is dull; because in chaos the train might indeed go anywhere, to Baker Street or to Bagdad. But man is a magician, and his whole magic is in this, that he does say Victoria, and lo! it is Victoria. No, take your books of mere poetry and prose; let me read a time table, with tears of pride. Take your Byron, who commemorates the defeats of man; give me Bradshaw, who commemorates his victories. Give me Bradshaw, I say!””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Man Who Was Thursday, 1908
Poetry should be striking and precise; mundane prose misses the mark, while bold, unexpected actions are epic.
In simple terms: Bold actions are more epic than ordinary words.
Key Takeaway
Embrace daring, specific expression.
Themes
creativity
precision
epic vs. prosaic
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- public speaking
- art criticism
Key Concepts
literary criticism
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes an action truly epic?
- When does precision become rigidity?
A Different Perspective
Boldness can be reckless if not grounded.
