--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What greater violence can be done to the…" description: "\"“What greater violence can be done to the poet’s experience than to drag it into an early morning classroom and to go after it as an item on its way to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/john-ciardi-10262_early-morning_what-greater-violence-can-be-done-to-the_2650967.png" --- # What greater violence can be done to the poet’s experience… ![“What greater violence can be done to the poet’s experience than to drag it into an early morning classroom and to go after it as an item on its way to a Final Examination? …It is the experience, not the Final Examination, that counts.” quote by John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/john-ciardi-10262_early-morning_what-greater-violence-can-be-done-to-the_2650967.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/john-ciardi-10262_early-morning_what-greater-violence-can-be-done-to-the_2650967.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/john-ciardi-10262_early-morning_what-greater-violence-can-be-done-to-the_2650967.png) > ““What greater violence can be done to the poet’s experience than to drag it into an early morning classroom and to go after it as an item on its way to a Final Examination? …It is the experience, not the Final Examination, that counts.”” [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetry loses its vitality when forced into academic assessment, reducing it to a mere object rather than an experience. **In simple terms:** Turning poetry into a test strips its emotional power. Key Takeaway Value lived experience over formal evaluation. Themes education poetry experience assessment creativity Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - classroom teaching - literature courses - creative writing workshops Key Concepts pedagogy art criticism philosophy of art Questions to Reflect On - How can educators honor the lived experience of poetry? - What alternatives to testing preserve artistic integrity? A Different Perspective Academic pressure can stifle artistic expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Early morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-morning/) [Experience Final](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-final-1460416/) [Final Exam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/final-exam/) [Greater Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-violence-655933/) [Poet Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet-experience-2349630/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violence Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-poet-1362367/) ## Related quotes > [Adversity is an experience, not a final act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leboeuf/adversity-is-an-experience-not-a-final-act/) [Michael LeBoeuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leboeuf/) > [Who shall measure the hat and violence of the poet's heart when caught and tangled in a woman's body?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/who-shall-measure-the-hat-and-violence-of-the-poet-s-heart-when/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“...who shall measure the heat and violence of a poet's heart when caught and tangled in a woman's body?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/who-shall-measure-the-heat-and-violence-of-a-poet-s-heart-when-caught/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“It seems to me now that the plain state of being human is dramatic enough for anyone; you don't need to be a heroin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/it-seems-to-me-now-that-the-plain-state-of-being-human-is-dramatic/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [I know that in a poem, even when the speaker is speaking from the poet's experience, there's always something that's borrowed, some authority that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-k-smith/i-know-that-in-a-poem-even-when-the-speaker-is-speaking-from-the-poet/) [Tracy K. 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Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [To realize The value of a sister: Ask someone Who doesn't have one. To realize The value of ten years: Ask a newly Divorced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/to-realize-the-value-of-a-sister-ask-someone-who-doesn-t-have-one-to/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“The importance of day-to-day coaching comes to mind when I think of my favorite college teacher. He was always getting into trouble with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-h-blanchard/the-importance-of-day-to-day-coaching-comes-to-mind-when-i-think-of/) [Kenneth H. Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-h-blanchard/) ## More by John Ciardi > [Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/tell-me-how-much-a-nation-knows-about-its-own-language-and-i-will/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that they have a better idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/modern-art-is-what-happens-when-painters-stop-looking-at-girls-and/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [The day will happen whether or not you get up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/the-day-will-happen-whether-or-not-you-get-up/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [But when the pen is in his hand he has to write by itch and twitch, though certainly his itch and twitch are intimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/but-when-the-pen-is-in-his-hand-he-has-to-write-by-itch-and-twitch/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [Who could believe an ant in theory? 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Did her parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/there-was-a-young-lady-from-gloucester-who-complained-that-her/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [One night I dreamed I was locked in my Father's watch With Ptolemy and twenty-one ruby stars Mounted on spheres and the Primum Mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/one-night-i-dreamed-i-was-locked-in-my-father-s-watch-with-ptolemy/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [Gentility is what is left over from rich ancestors after the money is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/gentility-is-what-is-left-over-from-rich-ancestors-after-the-money-is/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/the-classroom-should-be-an-entrance-into-the-world-not-an-escape-from/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [Boys are the cash of war. Whoever said: we're not free spenders- doesn't know our like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/boys-are-the-cash-of-war-whoever-said-we-re-not-free-spenders-doesn-t/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [“Hell is the denial of the ordinary...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/hell-is-the-denial-of-the-ordinary/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [General rules have been legislated into being by past masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/general-rules-have-been-legislated-into-being-by-past-masters/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [Written by a sponge dipped in warm milk and sprinkled with sugar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/written-by-a-sponge-dipped-in-warm-milk-and-sprinkled-with-sugar/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [Love is the word used to label the sexual excitement of the young, the habituation of the middle-aged, and the mutual dependence of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/love-is-the-word-used-to-label-the-sexual-excitement-of-the-young-the/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [A man is what he does with his attention and mine is not for sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/a-man-is-what-he-does-with-his-attention-and-mine-is-not-for-sale/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) [Explore all 67 John Ciardi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) ## More Early morning quotes > [“Men with names never truly die. It is only the nameless and faceless who vanish like smoke into the early morning air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwidge-dandicat/men-with-names-never-truly-die-it-is-only-the-nameless-and-faceless/) [Edwidge Dandicat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwidge-dandicat/) > [Don't wake up your neighbors early in the morning with a shout of Good morning! They will treat like a curse,\* not a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-plove/don-t-wake-up-your-neighbors-early-in-the-morning-with-a-shout-of/) [Emmanuel Plove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-plove/) > [“If it’s love, those tears are a sign of distress, not an act of defiance.        If it’s love, her bold fashion statement is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-macy-stafford/if-it-s-love-those-tears-are-a-sign-of-distress-not-an-act-of/) [Rachel Macy Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-macy-stafford/) > [It is early, early morning. It's that time when it's still dark but you know the day is coming. Blue is bleeding through black.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/it-is-early-early-morning-it-s-that-time-when-it-s-still-dark-but-you/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I like to hit the gym early in the morning. I feel better throughout the day when I get in a workout first thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jeter/i-like-to-hit-the-gym-early-in-the-morning-i-feel-better-throughout/) [Derek Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jeter/) > [I just want to stay by you day and night. The best feeling I get is when I see your face early morning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-want-to-stay-by-you-day-and-night-the-best-feeling-i-get-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The shadows in the early morning don't tell much. The shadows rest at that time. So it's useless to gaze very early in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-shadows-in-the-early-morning-don-t-tell-much-the-shadows-rest-at/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Will not the very moment of great disillusionment with my brother or sister be incomparably wholesome for me becuase it so thoroughly teaches me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/will-not-the-very-moment-of-great-disillusionment-with-my-brother-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Revising while you generate text is like drinking decaffeinated coffee in the early morning: noble idea, wrong time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-silvia/revising-while-you-generate-text-is-like-drinking-decaffeinated/) [Paul J. 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And every dew drop contains the reflection of all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/imagine-a-multidimensiona-l-spider-s-web-in-the-early-morning-covered/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The early morning sunlight warms a patch of linoleum, and she lets her feet bathe in it while the kettle heats on the stove.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-m-smith/the-early-morning-sunlight-warms-a-patch-of-linoleum-and-she-lets-her/) [Alexis M. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-m-smith/) > [Friends and lover are a blessing from almighty God and a faithful friend/lover is worth more than gold. What can be a better time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leodonessiony/friends-and-lover-are-a-blessing-from-almighty-god-and-a-faithful/) [Leodonessiony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leodonessiony/) > [“My studio team and I approached the creation of this series with enthusiasm, wit, sincerity and sometimes more than a dash of humour. Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waswo-x-waswo-2/my-studio-team-and-i-approached-the-creation-of-this-series-with/) [Waswo X Waswo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waswo-x-waswo-2/) [Browse all 495 Early morning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-morning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What greater violence can be done to the poet’s experience than to drag it into an early morning classroom and to go after it as an item on its way to a Final Examination? …It is the experience, not the Final Examination, that counts.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ciardi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/what-greater-violence-can-be-done-to-the-poet-s-experience-than-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Early morning" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/what-greater-violence-can-be-done-to-the-poet-s-experience-than-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/john-ciardi-10262_early-morning_what-greater-violence-can-be-done-to-the_2650967.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/john-ciardi-10262_early-morning_what-greater-violence-can-be-done-to-the_2650967.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/john-ciardi-10262_early-morning_what-greater-violence-can-be-done-to-the_2650967.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What greater violence can be done to the poet’s experience than to drag it into an early morning classroom…” — John Ciardi", "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 Ciardi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What greater violence can be done...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/what-greater-violence-can-be-done-to-the-poet-s-experience-than-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/what-greater-violence-can-be-done-to-the-poet-s-experience-than-to/#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 } } ] } ```