--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But anyhow it is true that this, which is…" description: "\"“But anyhow it is true that this, which is our first poem, might very well be our last poem too. It might well be the last word as well as the first wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d2/g-k-chesterton-224_poetry_but-anyhow-it-is-true-that-this-which-is_2107015.jpg" --- # But anyhow it is true that this, which is our first poem… ![“But anyhow it is true that this, which is our first poem, might very well be our last poem too. It might well be the last word as well as the first word spoken by man about his mortal lot, as seen by merely mortal vision. If the world becomes pagan and perishes, the last man left alive would do…” quote by G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d2/g-k-chesterton-224_poetry_but-anyhow-it-is-true-that-this-which-is_2107015.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d2/g-k-chesterton-224_poetry_but-anyhow-it-is-true-that-this-which-is_2107015.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d2/g-k-chesterton-224_poetry_but-anyhow-it-is-true-that-this-which-is_2107015.jpg) > ““But anyhow it is true that this, which is our first poem, might very well be our last poem too. It might well be the last word as well as the first word spoken by man about his mortal lot, as seen by merely mortal vision. If the world becomes pagan and perishes, the last man left alive would do well to quote the Iliad and die.”” [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggests that poetry may be humanity’s first and last expression, urging preservation of cultural heritage even as civilization declines. **In simple terms:** Poetry could be humanity’s first and last voice. Key Takeaway Preserve art for future generations. Themes mortality legacy culture Mood thoughtful somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - museum curation - writing - public policy Key Concepts ephemerality human condition Questions to Reflect On - What role does poetry play in defining humanity? - How can we protect cultural works in turbulent times? A Different Perspective Future societies may not value ancient works, limiting their influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Last Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-word/) [Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [If the world becomes pagan and perishes, the last man left alive would do well to quote the Iliad and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-world-becomes-pagan-and-perishes-the-last-man-left-alive-would/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me, the measure of a poem is the word, not the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kinsella/for-me-the-measure-of-a-poem-is-the-word-not-the-line/) [John Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kinsella/) > [In a machine, every part has a function. In a poem, every word needs to be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-equi/in-a-machine-every-part-has-a-function-in-a-poem-every-word-needs-to/) [Elaine Equi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-equi/) > [“The name does not deserve the poem, but the poem deserves the name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/the-name-does-not-deserve-the-poem-but-the-poem-deserves-the-name/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“Beauty walks this world. It ages everything. I am far and I am an animal and I am just another I-am poem, a we-see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gizzi/beauty-walks-this-world-it-ages-everything-i-am-far-and-i-am-an/) [Peter Gizzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gizzi/) > [Its not easy to write a poem about a poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/its-not-easy-to-write-a-poem-about-a-poem/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“Since when," he asked, "Are the first line and last line of any poem Where the poem begins and ends?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/since-when-he-asked-are-the-first-line-and-last-line-of-any-poem/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [“That's called man skills, yo. (On a student's poem about a poem)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-charles-melman/that-s-called-man-skills-yo-on-a-student-s-poem-about-a-poem/) Peter Charles Melman > [Often when I write poetry I don't quite know what I'm saying myself. I mean, I can't restate the poem. The meaning of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pattiann-rogers/often-when-i-write-poetry-i-don-t-quite-know-what-i-m-saying-myself-i/) [Pattiann Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pattiann-rogers/) > [“I still don't know how to work out a poem. A poem needs understanding through the senses. The point of diving into a lake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/i-still-don-t-know-how-to-work-out-a-poem-a-poem-needs-understanding/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“Have it compose a poem- a poem about a haircut! 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/there-exists-in-such-a-case-a-certain-institution-or-law-let-us-say/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“Man, by a blind instinct, knew that if once things were wildly questioned, reason could be questioned first. The authority of priests to absolve,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/man-by-a-blind-instinct-knew-that-if-once-things-were-wildly/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-is-idle-to-talk-always-of-the-alternative-of-reason-and-faith/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“But in order that life should be a story or romance to us, it is necessary that a great part of it, at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/but-in-order-that-life-should-be-a-story-or-romance-to-us-it-is/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“Buddhism seeks after God with the largest conception it can find, the all-producing and all-absorbing One; Christianity seeks after God with the most elementary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/buddhism-seeks-after-god-with-the-largest-conception-it-can-find-the/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“Man is more himself, more manlike, when joy is the fundamental thing and grief superficial.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/man-is-more-himself-more-manlike-when-joy-is-the-fundamental-thing/) [G.K. 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Even now a letter comes from a place I don’t know, from someone with my name and postmarked years ago, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/memory-revises-me-even-now-a-letter-comes-from-a-place-i-don-t-know/) [Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/) > [“Sentinels of trees breathe life into bodies of earthly flesh As their mighty arms reach to the stars we join in their quest for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/sentinels-of-trees-breathe-life-into-bodies-of-earthly-flesh-as-their/) [Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/) > [“I cannot go to school today" Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-cannot-go-to-school-today-said-little-peggy-ann-mckay-i-have-the/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Good God, 'the elusive thing'. She had reached a turning point. She no longer believed that a situation could be made better by writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/good-god-the-elusive-thing-she-had-reached-a-turning-point-she-no/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [A day which passed without a poem from my pen I considered lost and misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/a-day-which-passed-without-a-poem-from-my-pen-i-considered-lost-and/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [“Memories of past. Heartaches of old. Courage of brass. Lessons of gold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/memories-of-past-heartaches-of-old-courage-of-brass-lessons-of-gold/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“To write a poem...to paint an image on canvass from the contemplation of nature and life...is to be present again in this world more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeper-sense-of-presence-isabella-koldras/to-write-a-poem-to-paint-an-image-on-canvass-from-the-contemplation/) Deeper sense of presence Isabella koldras > [“Easter blessings All life’s sacrifices like autumn leaves awaken our senses and power to love and be whole Our Mother Earth, Our Father Sky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/easter-blessings-all-life-s-sacrifices-like-autumn-leaves-awaken-our/) [Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/) > [Poetry is a lousy form of activism; it doesn't really change much. 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