Agents Quote by Herbert Read
“In order to create it is necessary to destroy; and the agent of destruction in society is the poet. I believe that the poet is necessarily an anarchist, and that he must oppose all organized conceptions of the State, not only those which we inherit from the past, but equally those which are imposed on people in the name of the future.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Poet as Revolutionary, Herbert Read, 1938
Poets must destroy existing structures and oppose state authority, acting as anarchists who reject all imposed orders, past or future.
In simple terms: Poets destroy and oppose the state, acting as anarchists.
Key Takeaway
Embrace creative rebellion against imposed systems.
Themes
art
anarchism
political dissent
creativity
Mood
provocative
inspirational
Type
literary
political
When to use this quote
- writing
- protest art
- education
- community organizing
- policy critique
Key Concepts
philosophy
literature
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- Can art change society without violence?
- What are the limits of anarchist critique?
A Different Perspective
Destruction can alienate allies and cause chaos.
![“[On an anarchist acquaintance:] Everything in appearance the most alarmist aunt could wish.” quote by Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ae9/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_acquaintance_on-an-anarchist-acquaintance-everything_72515.jpg)
![“I don't see [ Trainspotting ] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've got a good agent, I've got a good manager, I'm getting a lot of work out there and doing a lot of stuff - getting a lot of film projects on the go.” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/918/irvine-welsh-843_agents_i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatros_7750.jpg)
