--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A poet's mission is to make words do more…" description: "\"A poet's mission is to make words do more work than they normally do, to make them work on more than one level.\" — Jay-Z" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/jay-z-713_goals_a-poet-s-mission-is-to-make-words-do-mor_1406478.png" --- # A poet's mission is to make words do more work than they… ![“A poet's mission is to make words do more work than they normally do, to make them work on more than one level.” quote by Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/jay-z-713_goals_a-poet-s-mission-is-to-make-words-do-mor_1406478.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/jay-z-713_goals_a-poet-s-mission-is-to-make-words-do-mor_1406478.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/jay-z-713_goals_a-poet-s-mission-is-to-make-words-do-mor_1406478.png) > “A poet's mission is to make words do more work than they normally do, to make them work on more than one level.” [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetry should push language beyond its ordinary function, operating on multiple layers of meaning. **In simple terms:** Poetry works on many levels. Key Takeaway Write with depth and double meaning. Themes poetry language art multilayered creativity Mood inspirational introspective Type literary musical When to use this quote - songwriting - advertising - public speaking - visual art Key Concepts literary theory semantic richness Questions to Reflect On - How can we make layered language accessible? - When does depth become obscurity? A Different Perspective Complexity can alienate some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [A poet's mission is to make others confound fiction and reality in order to render them, for an hour, mysteriously happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isak-dinesen/a-poet-s-mission-is-to-make-others-confound-fiction-and-reality-in/) [Isak Dinesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isak-dinesen/) > [Make these words find a spot on your brain and burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/make-these-words-find-a-spot-on-your-brain-and-burn/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [“You see how the words work? They betray your mouth and walk away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/you-see-how-the-words-work-they-betray-your-mouth-and-walk-away/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [“For some moments in life, there is no need for words and all you have to do is to do the work and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-ocaya/for-some-moments-in-life-there-is-no-need-for-words-and-all-you-have/) Geoffrey Ocaya > [There are words that work, that are meant to explain and educate on policies that work, on products that work, on services that work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-luntz/there-are-words-that-work-that-are-meant-to-explain-and-educate-on/) [Frank Luntz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-luntz/) > [My own words, when I am at work on a story, I hear too as they go, in the same voice that I hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/my-own-words-when-i-am-at-work-on-a-story-i-hear-too-as-they-go-in/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [“Words cannot always do the work we need them to. Music is there for when words fail us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/words-cannot-always-do-the-work-we-need-them-to-music-is-there-for/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“On No Work of Words On no work of words now for three lean months in the bloody Belly of the rich year and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/on-no-work-of-words-on-no-work-of-words-now-for-three-lean-months-in/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [I find that with some girls, the words 'work' and 'education' have gotten a bad rap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-find-that-with-some-girls-the-words-work-and-education-have-gotten/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Be original. That's my best advice. You're going to find that there's something that you do well, and try to do it with as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/be-original-that-s-my-best-advice-you-re-going-to-find-that-there-s/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [Making all of those words work together is difficult. It took a lot of cleaning up, a lot of rewriting scenes in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/making-all-of-those-words-work-together-is-difficult-it-took-a-lot-of/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [“In truth, language seems less like a series of cells in which we are imprisoned than like a set of tools that help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-truth-language-seems-less-like-a-series-of-cells-in-which-we-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's so easy to use tired, shopworn figures of speech. I love using long, fancy words but have learned - mostly from writing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/it-s-so-easy-to-use-tired-shopworn-figures-of-speech-i-love-using/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [When you work with words, words are your work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-knotts/when-you-work-with-words-words-are-your-work/) [Don Knotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-knotts/) > [I just want the actors to put their faith in the language. Just let the words do the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcpherson/i-just-want-the-actors-to-put-their-faith-in-the-language-just-let/) [Conor McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcpherson/) ## More by Jay-Z > [At 42 be better than 24, I carried the 4-5, mastered 48 laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/at-42-be-better-than-24-i-carried-the-4-5-mastered-48-laws/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Wherever I go, I bring the culture with me, so that they can understand that it's attainable. I didn't do it any other way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/wherever-i-go-i-bring-the-culture-with-me-so-that-they-can-understand/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Everyone who makes music is a good collaborator at their foundation because in order to make music, you have to connect to it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/everyone-who-makes-music-is-a-good-collaborator-at-their-foundation/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [New York - I'm connected. This is my core. I feel like if I'm not connected to New York, then I don't even know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/new-york-i-m-connected-this-is-my-core-i-feel-like-if-i-m-not/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [It was a very intense and stressful situation. There was playing in the Johnny-pump (an opened fire hydrant) and the ice-cream man coming around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/it-was-a-very-intense-and-stressful-situation-there-was-playing-in/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [“THEY NEVER TAUGHT MARCUS GARVEY IN OUR SCHOOL CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IS THEIR GOLDEN RULE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/they-never-taught-marcus-garvey-in-our-school-christopher-columbus-is/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [I'm a person that works off of music. I let the music dictate the direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-m-a-person-that-works-off-of-music-i-let-the-music-dictate-the/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Tears on the mauseoleum floor. Blood stains the coliseum doors. Lies on the lips of a priest. Thanksgiving disguised as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/tears-on-the-mauseoleum-floor-blood-stains-the-coliseum-doors-lies-on/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Around 20. I'd been trying to transition from the streets to the music business, but I would make demos and then quit for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/around-20-i-d-been-trying-to-transition-from-the-streets-to-the-music/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [There's the gift, there's the spirit, and there's the work-all three have to come together. If one of those things is off, it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/there-s-the-gift-there-s-the-spirit-and-there-s-the-work-all-three/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [All black everything, Ni\*\*a you know my fresh code. Im out here fightin for you, dont increase my stress load.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/all-black-everything-ni-a-you-know-my-fresh-code-im-out-here-fightin/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [I couldn't even think about wanting to be something else; I wouldn't let myself visualize another life. But I wrote because I couldn't stop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-couldn-t-even-think-about-wanting-to-be-something-else-i-wouldn-t/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Lord forgive me I never would've made it without sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/lord-forgive-me-i-never-would-ve-made-it-without-sin/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [In trouble waters I had to learn how to float](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/in-trouble-waters-i-had-to-learn-how-to-float/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Their gunnin' for me, want to see me fall, you know my story, been through it all, times I felt like dyin', but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/their-gunnin-for-me-want-to-see-me-fall-you-know-my-story-been/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Explore all 397 Jay-Z quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A poet's mission is to make words do more work than they normally do, to make them work on more than one level.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/a-poet-s-mission-is-to-make-words-do-more-work-than-they-normally-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/a-poet-s-mission-is-to-make-words-do-more-work-than-they-normally-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/jay-z-713_goals_a-poet-s-mission-is-to-make-words-do-mor_1406478.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/jay-z-713_goals_a-poet-s-mission-is-to-make-words-do-mor_1406478.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30c/jay-z-713_goals_a-poet-s-mission-is-to-make-words-do-mor_1406478.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A poet's mission is to make words do more work than they normally do, to make them work on more than one…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jay-Z", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A poet's mission is to make...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/a-poet-s-mission-is-to-make-words-do-more-work-than-they-normally-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/a-poet-s-mission-is-to-make-words-do-more-work-than-they-normally-do/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```