Concerned Quote by John Drinkwater
“To know anything of a poet but his poetry is, so far as the poetry is concerned, to know something that may be entertaining, even delightful, but is certainly inessential.”
About This Quote
Source Play: "The Poet's Echo" by John Drinkwater, 1915
An assertion that a poet’s value lies primarily in their poetry, which is entertaining but not essential to knowledge.
In simple terms: Poetry entertains but isn’t essential for understanding.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate poetry for its joy, not as a necessity.
Themes
art
literature
entertainment
essentialism
Mood
contemplative
inspirational
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading poetry
- teaching literature
- creative writing workshops
- cultural events
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
aesthetic theory
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we value art beyond utility?
- How does poetry enrich everyday life?
A Different Perspective
Some may view poetry as vital to cultural identity.
![“I don't know if I call myself a poet or not. I would like to, but I'm not really qualified to make that decision, because I come in on such a back door, that I don't know what a Robert Frost or a [John] Keats or a T.S. Eliot would really think of my stuff.” quote by Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ca0/bob-dylan-168_back-doors_i-don-t-know-if-i-call-myself-a-poet-or_400356.jpg)
