--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a shallow criticism that would…" description: "\"It is a shallow criticism that would define poetry as confined to literary productions in rhyme and meter rhythm. The written poem is only poetry talki..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/196/john-ruskin-314_acting_it-is-a-shallow-criticism-that-would-def_1275220.jpg" --- # It is a shallow criticism that would define poetry as… ![“It is a shallow criticism that would define poetry as confined to literary productions in rhyme and meter rhythm. The written poem is only poetry talking, and the statue, the picture, and the musical composition are poetry acting. Milton and Goethe, at their desks, were not more truly poets than…” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/196/john-ruskin-314_acting_it-is-a-shallow-criticism-that-would-def_1275220.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/196/john-ruskin-314_acting_it-is-a-shallow-criticism-that-would-def_1275220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/196/john-ruskin-314_acting_it-is-a-shallow-criticism-that-would-def_1275220.jpg) > “It is a shallow criticism that would define poetry as confined to literary productions in rhyme and meter rhythm. The written poem is only poetry talking, and the statue, the picture, and the musical composition are poetry acting. Milton and Goethe, at their desks, were not more truly poets than Phidias with his chisel, Raphael at his easel, or deaf Beethoven bending over his piano, inventing and producing strains, which he himself could never hope to hear.” [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetry isn’t limited to verses; any art form that expresses ideas is poetic, from sculpture to music. **In simple terms:** All arts can be poetry. Key Takeaway Recognize creativity everywhere. Themes art creativity interdisciplinary Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - museum curation - music composition - visual arts education - literary analysis Key Concepts aesthetics expression Questions to Reflect On - Can a silent sculpture be as moving as a sonnet? - How do we judge poetic value across media? A Different Perspective Some may argue only language can convey poetic nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Bending over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bending-over/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Inventing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventing/) [Musical composition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-composition/) [Phidias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phidias/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets/) [Rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm/) ## Related quotes > [“Reading does not occupy me enough: the only relief I find springs from the composition of poetry, which necessitates contemplations that lift me above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/reading-does-not-occupy-me-enough-the-only-relief-i-find-springs-from/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [I've been writing since I was a kid. Short stories, poetry, and all of that, and acting is just an extension of that. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/i-ve-been-writing-since-i-was-a-kid-short-stories-poetry-and-all-of/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [Writing poetry is talking to oneself; yet it is a mode of talking to oneself in which the self disappears; and the product's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/writing-poetry-is-talking-to-oneself-yet-it-is-a-mode-of-talking-to/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [Poetry is talking on tiptoe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meredith/poetry-is-talking-on-tiptoe/) [George Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meredith/) > [My dad was the cause of me being in show business. He was not only in poetry but in acting a bit. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/my-dad-was-the-cause-of-me-being-in-show-business-he-was-not-only-in/) [Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/) > [I define poetry as celebration and confrontation. When we witness something, are we responsible for what we witness? That's an on-going existential question. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusef-komunyakaa/i-define-poetry-as-celebration-and-confrontation-when-we-witness/) [Yusef Komunyakaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusef-komunyakaa/) > [I keep trying to define 'poetry,' but it's so difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gleeson/i-keep-trying-to-define-poetry-but-it-s-so-difficult/) [Jack Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gleeson/) > [I could define poetry this way: it is that which is lost out of both prose and verse in translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/i-could-define-poetry-this-way-it-is-that-which-is-lost-out-of-both/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [I keep trying to define poetry, but its so difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gleeson/i-keep-trying-to-define-poetry-but-its-so-difficult/) [Jack Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gleeson/) > [I could no more define poetry than a terrier can define a rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-could-no-more-define-poetry-than-a-terrier-can-define-a-rat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Though philosophers like to define poetry as irrational fancy, for us it is practical, humorous, reasonable way of being ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/though-philosophers-like-to-define-poetry-as-irrational-fancy-for-us/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [It's not easy to define poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/it-s-not-easy-to-define-poetry/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [. . . what humanity most desperately needs is not the creation of new worlds but the recreation in terms of human comprehension of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/what-humanity-most-desperately-needs-is-not-the-creation-of-new/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [There is a connection, hard to explain logically but easy to feel, between achievement in public life and progress in the arts. The age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-is-a-connection-hard-to-explain-logically-but-easy-to-feel/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Not from a vain or shallow thought His awful Jove young Phidias brought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/not-from-a-vain-or-shallow-thought-his-awful-jove-young-phidias/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by John Ruskin > [“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Mighty of heart, mighty of mind, magnanimous-to be this is indeed to be great in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/mighty-of-heart-mighty-of-mind-magnanimous-to-be-this-is-indeed-to-be/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/life-is-a-magic-vase-filled-to-the-brim-so-made-that-you-cannot-dip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I am far more provoked at being thought foolish by foolish people, than pleased at being thought sensible by sensible people; and the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-am-far-more-provoked-at-being-thought-foolish-by-foolish-people/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/when-we-build-let-it-not-be-for-present-delights-nor-for-present-use/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated; far more difficult to sacrifice skill and easy execution in the proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-far-more-difficult-to-be-simple-than-to-be-complicated-far-more/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-a-good-and-safe-rule-to-sojourn-in-every-place-as-if-you-meant/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“You may trust to the truth of my sympathy; but you must remember that I am engaged in the investigation of enormous religious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/you-may-trust-to-the-truth-of-my-sympathy-but-you-must-remember-that/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [And remember, child, that nothing is ever done beautifully, which is done in rivalship; or nobly, which is done in pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/and-remember-child-that-nothing-is-ever-done-beautifully-which-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-s-unwise-to-pay-too-much-but-it-s-worse-to-pay-too-little/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The world is full of vulgar Purists, who bring discredit on all selection by the silliness of their choice; and this the more, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-world-is-full-of-vulgar-purists-who-bring-discredit-on-all/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Like other beautiful things in this world, its end (that of a shaft) is to be beautiful; and, in proportion to its beauty, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/like-other-beautiful-things-in-this-world-its-end-that-of-a-shaft-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [All are to be men of genius in their degree,--rivulets or rivers, it does not matter, so that the souls be clear and pure;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/all-are-to-be-men-of-genius-in-their-degree-rivulets-or-rivers-it/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The art of drawing which is of more real importance to the human race than that of writing...should be taught to every child just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-art-of-drawing-which-is-of-more-real-importance-to-the-human-race/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) [Explore all 696 John Ruskin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a shallow criticism that would define poetry as confined to literary productions in rhyme and meter rhythm. The written poem is only poetry talking, and the statue, the picture, and the musical composition are poetry acting. 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