--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The poet or storyteller who feels that he…" description: "\"The poet or storyteller who feels that he is competing with a superb double play in the World Series is a lost man. One would not want as a reader a ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/john-cheever-3301_appreciate_the-poet-or-storyteller-who-feels-that-h_51683.jpg" --- # The poet or storyteller who feels that he is competing… ![“The poet or storyteller who feels that he is competing with a superb double play in the World Series is a lost man. One would not want as a reader a man who did not appreciate the finesse of a double play.” quote by John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/john-cheever-3301_appreciate_the-poet-or-storyteller-who-feels-that-h_51683.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/john-cheever-3301_appreciate_the-poet-or-storyteller-who-feels-that-h_51683.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/john-cheever-3301_appreciate_the-poet-or-storyteller-who-feels-that-h_51683.jpg) > “The poet or storyteller who feels that he is competing with a superb double play in the World Series is a lost man. One would not want as a reader a man who did not appreciate the finesse of a double play.” [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns against writers who ignore the subtle craft of storytelling, likening them to a player who fails to recognize a perfect double play in baseball, thus missing the art of narrative finesse. **In simple terms:** Neglecting narrative subtlety is a loss. Key Takeaway Appreciate craft, avoid superficiality. Themes craftsmanship humility literary criticism sports metaphor attention to detail Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type observation advice When to use this quote - writing workshops - literary criticism - author interviews - reading groups Key Concepts storytelling reading experience authorial self-awareness Practical Applications - teaching narrative techniques - guiding aspiring writers Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing subtlety improve your writing? - What does the double‑play metaphor reveal about literary standards? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appreciate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate/) [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Double Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/double-play-353084/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Finesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finesse/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poet Storyteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet-storyteller-734259/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Reader Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-man-734260/) [Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series/) [Storyteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyteller/) [Storyteller Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyteller-feels-734258/) [Superb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superb/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-series/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [My child, you have a flawed grasp of the nature of myth-making. I am a poet and storyteller, a creator of ballads and sagas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/my-child-you-have-a-flawed-grasp-of-the-nature-of-myth-making-i-am-a/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Reader! Are you with the man-stealers in sympathy and purpose, or on the side of their down-trodden victims? If with the former, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/reader-are-you-with-the-man-stealers-in-sympathy-and-purpose-or-on/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I'm just trying to affect the game in some way whenever I get an opportunity. If that's stealing a base, making a catch, beating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/i-m-just-trying-to-affect-the-game-in-some-way-whenever-i-get-an/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [I hang in there all the time. I'm not afraid to be taken out. I think that's the biggest thing to do-just stay in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-pedroia/i-hang-in-there-all-the-time-i-m-not-afraid-to-be-taken-out-i-think/) [Dustin Pedroia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-pedroia/) > [I have heard of managers who encourage players not to slide hard for fear they will get hurt and be lost from the lineup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/i-have-heard-of-managers-who-encourage-players-not-to-slide-hard-for/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [When I was a player and hit into a double play, I felt as if I was letting everyone down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/when-i-was-a-player-and-hit-into-a-double-play-i-felt-as-if-i-was/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [There's absolutely no way you can go barreling into second and dump a guy on a double play, like you should do, when you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-robinson/there-s-absolutely-no-way-you-can-go-barreling-into-second-and-dump-a/) [Frank Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-robinson/) > [You could have the bases loaded, and you bring up the best pinch-hitter in the world to pinch hit, he hits into a double…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/you-could-have-the-bases-loaded-and-you-bring-up-the-best-pinch/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [ There is no second baseman in the game who can turn the double play better \[than Mark Lemke\]. Why are people always looking for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-glavine/there-is-no-second-baseman-in-the-game-who-can-turn-the-double-play/) [Tom Glavine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-glavine/) > [One time in spring training, we had the hit-and-run on, and Carl Erskine threw me a curve and I struck out into a double…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitey-herzog/one-time-in-spring-training-we-had-the-hit-and-run-on-and-carl/) [Whitey Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitey-herzog/) > [I never think Im going to make a double play in the outfield. But I did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-soriano/i-never-think-im-going-to-make-a-double-play-in-the-outfield-but-i/) [Alfonso Soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfonso-soriano/) > [There was Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace, and together we were a double play combination for ten years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryne-sandberg/there-was-shawon-dunston-and-mark-grace-and-together-we-were-a-double/) [Ryne Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryne-sandberg/) > [As far as I'm concerned, Parnelli Jones was the greatest driver of his era. He had aggressiveness and also a finesse that no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-parnelli-jones-was-the-greatest-driver-of-his/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [If you could choose to master a single ingredient, no choice would teach you more about cooking than the egg. It is an end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ruhlman/if-you-could-choose-to-master-a-single-ingredient-no-choice-would/) [Michael Ruhlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ruhlman/) > [The American capitalists are richer and stronger than their counterparts in other lands. They are also younger and more ignorant, and therefore more inclined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-cannon/the-american-capitalists-are-richer-and-stronger-than-their/) [James P. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-cannon/) ## More by John Cheever > [Only the opium eater truly understands the pain of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/only-the-opium-eater-truly-understands-the-pain-of-death/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [“She perceived vaguely the pitiful corruption of the adult world; how cruel and frail it was, like a worn piece of burlap, patched with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/she-perceived-vaguely-the-pitiful-corruption-of-the-adult-world-how/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [For lovers, touch is metamorphosis. All the parts of their bodies seem to change, and they seem to become something different and better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/for-lovers-touch-is-metamorphosis-all-the-parts-of-their-bodies-seem/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [“I dream that someone in space says to me: So let us rush, then, to see the world. It is shaped like an egg,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/i-dream-that-someone-in-space-says-to-me-so-let-us-rush-then-to-see/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [I don't like to see all my energies, all of my youth, wasted in fur coats and radios and slipcovers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/i-don-t-like-to-see-all-my-energies-all-of-my-youth-wasted-in-fur/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [Literature has been the salvation of the damned, literature has inspired and guided lovers, routed despair and can perhaps in this case save the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/literature-has-been-the-salvation-of-the-damned-literature-has/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [At my back I hear the word-"homosexual"-and it seems to split my world in two… It is ignorance, our ignorance of one another, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/at-my-back-i-hear-the-word-homosexual-and-it-seems-to-split-my-world/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [One would never have guessed that the world had such a capacity for genuine grief. The most we can do is exploit our memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/one-would-never-have-guessed-that-the-world-had-such-a-capacity-for/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [“His stepmother -wearing a nightgown for comfort and a flowered hat for looks- had spent her days sitting in their parlor window in Baltimore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/his-stepmother-wearing-a-nightgown-for-comfort-and-a-flowered-hat-for/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [Fear tastes like a rusty knife and do not let her into your house. Courage tastes of blood. Stand up straight. Admire the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/fear-tastes-like-a-rusty-knife-and-do-not-let-her-into-your-house/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [I dream that my face appears on a postage stamp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/i-dream-that-my-face-appears-on-a-postage-stamp/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [Wisdom is the knowledge of good and evil, not the strength to choose between the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/wisdom-is-the-knowledge-of-good-and-evil-not-the-strength-to-choose/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [“There was some faint coughing, a moan, and then a man spoke. "Are you all right, darling?" he asked. "Yes," a woman said wearily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/there-was-some-faint-coughing-a-moan-and-then-a-man-spoke-are-you-all/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [“It was one of those midsummer Sundays when everyone sits around saying, "I drank too much last night." You might have heard it whispered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/it-was-one-of-those-midsummer-sundays-when-everyone-sits-around/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [“To write well, to write passionately, to be less inhibited, to be warmer, to be more self-critical, to recognize the power of as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/to-write-well-to-write-passionately-to-be-less-inhibited-to-be-warmer/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) [Explore all 132 John Cheever quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) ## More Appreciate quotes > [All I hear is the people that appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/all-i-hear-is-the-people-that-appreciate-me/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Time is really gold,spent it wisely with the people around you.Spread love,appreciate the beauty around you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jglargosta/time-is-really-gold-spent-it-wisely-with-the-people-around-you-spread/) [Jglargosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jglargosta/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. Willard Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-willard-gibbs/) > [This time, there were no drugs involved. The hours were completely normal daytime hours. I think we were able to appreciate the interplay, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/this-time-there-were-no-drugs-involved-the-hours-were-completely/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [I would like beautiful gymnastics to be recognized as the best. I want the judges to appreciate things that are not necessarily winning points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kohei-uchimura/i-would-like-beautiful-gymnastics-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-i-want/) [Kohei Uchimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kohei-uchimura/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [It's great at this stage in my life to still be in the running, that people appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/it-s-great-at-this-stage-in-my-life-to-still-be-in-the-running-that/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Love is too wonderful for us but why we often times do not ever appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamad-idrus/love-is-too-wonderful-for-us-but-why-we-often-times-do-not-ever/) [Mohamad Idrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamad-idrus/) > [I think the most important thing is to stay hopeful, to believe wonderful things are possible and do your best. Basically, to not give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irena-a-hoffman/i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-stay-hopeful-to-believe/) [Irena A. Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irena-a-hoffman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) [Browse all 3,873 Appreciate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The poet or storyteller who feels that he is competing with a superb double play in the World Series is a lost man. One would not want as a reader a man who did not appreciate the finesse of a double play.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cheever" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/the-poet-or-storyteller-who-feels-that-he-is-competing-with-a-superb/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appreciate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/the-poet-or-storyteller-who-feels-that-he-is-competing-with-a-superb/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/john-cheever-3301_appreciate_the-poet-or-storyteller-who-feels-that-h_51683.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/john-cheever-3301_appreciate_the-poet-or-storyteller-who-feels-that-h_51683.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/john-cheever-3301_appreciate_the-poet-or-storyteller-who-feels-that-h_51683.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The poet or storyteller who feels that he is competing with a superb double play in the World Series is a…” — John Cheever", "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": "John Cheever", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The poet or storyteller who feels...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/the-poet-or-storyteller-who-feels-that-he-is-competing-with-a-superb/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/the-poet-or-storyteller-who-feels-that-he-is-competing-with-a-superb/#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 } } ] } ```