--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you would be a poet, write living…" description: "\"If you would be a poet, write living newspapers. Be a reporter from outer space, filing dispatches to some supreme managing editor who believes in full..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/lawrence-ferlinghetti-7689_believe_if-you-would-be-a-poet-write-living-news_2482030.jpg" --- # If you would be a poet, write living newspapers. Be a… ![“If you would be a poet, write living newspapers. Be a reporter from outer space, filing dispatches to some supreme managing editor who believes in full disclosure and has a low tolerance for bullshit.” quote by Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/lawrence-ferlinghetti-7689_believe_if-you-would-be-a-poet-write-living-news_2482030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/lawrence-ferlinghetti-7689_believe_if-you-would-be-a-poet-write-living-news_2482030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/lawrence-ferlinghetti-7689_believe_if-you-would-be-a-poet-write-living-news_2482030.jpg) > “If you would be a poet, write living newspapers. Be a reporter from outer space, filing dispatches to some supreme managing editor who believes in full disclosure and has a low tolerance for bullshit.” [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourage writers to observe life vividly and report truthfully, like journalists from an alien perspective. **In simple terms:** Write with fresh, honest eyes. Key Takeaway Observe and report reality boldly. Themes creativity truth perspective Mood reflective provocative Type inspirational critical When to use this quote - writing workshops - media criticism - creative nonfiction - social commentary Key Concepts journalism poetry critical observation Questions to Reflect On - How can you make ordinary events feel extraordinary? - What biases do you need to set aside? A Different Perspective May alienate readers uncomfortable with stark honesty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bullshit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullshit/) [Disclosure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disclosure/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Newspapers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspapers/) [Outer space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outer-space/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Reporter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reporter/) [Reporters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reporters/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I did not read newspapers until I became a reporter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/i-did-not-read-newspapers-until-i-became-a-reporter/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [“If I were a poet, that’s what I’d write about. People who worked in the middle of the night. Men who loaded trains, emergency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/if-i-were-a-poet-that-s-what-i-d-write-about-people-who-worked-in-the/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [The reason a poet is a poet is to write poems, not to advertise himself as a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-amichai/the-reason-a-poet-is-a-poet-is-to-write-poems-not-to-advertise/) [Yehuda Amichai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-amichai/) > [So how can a poet-an intelligent, serious poet-write mystical verse now? The poetry of Adam Zagajewski provides the beginning of an answer to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-kirsch/so-how-can-a-poet-an-intelligent-serious-poet-write-mystical-verse/) [Adam Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-kirsch/) > [The chances are that, in the course of his lifetime, the major poet will write more bad poems than the minor, simply because major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/the-chances-are-that-in-the-course-of-his-lifetime-the-major-poet/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [The poet will write for his peers alone. He will remember only that he saw truth and beauty from his position, and expect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-poet-will-write-for-his-peers-alone-he-will-remember-only-that-he/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The poet is he who can write some pure mythology today without the aid of posterity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-poet-is-he-who-can-write-some-pure-mythology-today-without-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It is one thing to write as poet and another to write as a historian: the poet can recount or sing about things not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-one-thing-to-write-as-poet-and-another-to-write-as-a-historian/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One can't write for all readers. A poet cannot write for people who don't like poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalie-sarraute/one-can-t-write-for-all-readers-a-poet-cannot-write-for-people-who/) [Nathalie Sarraute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalie-sarraute/) > [In order to write poetry, you must first invent a poet who will write it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-machado/in-order-to-write-poetry-you-must-first-invent-a-poet-who-will-write/) [Antonio Machado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-machado/) > [If I were a poet, I would write you a love poem a day. If I were a singer, I would sing you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-were-a-poet-i-would-write-you-a-love-poem-a-day-if-i-were-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A hundred cabinet-makers in London can work a table or a chair equally well; but no one poet can write verses with such spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/a-hundred-cabinet-makers-in-london-can-work-a-table-or-a-chair-2/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [A hundred cabinet-makers in London can work a table or a chair equally well; but noone poet can write verses with such spirit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/a-hundred-cabinet-makers-in-london-can-work-a-table-or-a-chair/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [No one begs you to be a poet or write a 1000-page poem. You have to be fueled by a drive, a conviction -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-waldman/no-one-begs-you-to-be-a-poet-or-write-a-1000-page-poem-you-have-to-be/) [Anne Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-waldman/) > [A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/a-musician-must-make-music-an-artist-must-paint-a-poet-must-write-if/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) ## More by Lawrence Ferlinghetti > [“I am waiting for the meek to be blessed and inherit the earth... without taxes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/i-am-waiting-for-the-meek-to-be-blessed-and-inherit-the-earth-without/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [We have to raise the consciousness; the only way poets can change the world is to raise the consciousness of the general populace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/we-have-to-raise-the-consciousness-the-only-way-poets-can-change-the/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [I didn’t know that painters and writers retired. They’re like soldiers – they just fade away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/i-didn-t-know-that-painters-and-writers-retired-they-re-like-soldiers/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [I certainly was surprised to be named Poet Laureate of this far-out city on the left side of the world, and I gratefully accept,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/i-certainly-was-surprised-to-be-named-poet-laureate-of-this-far-out/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [Paperbacks weren't considered real books in the book trade. Up till then it was just murder mysteries, potboilers, 25-cent pocket books sold in newsstands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/paperbacks-weren-t-considered-real-books-in-the-book-trade-up-till/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [Poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/poetry-is-the-shadow-cast-by-our-streetlight-imaginations/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [The real literary editors have mostly been fired. Those that remain are all ottom line editors; everything depends on the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/the-real-literary-editors-have-mostly-been-fired-those-that-remain/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [“Cast up the heart flops over gasping 'Love' a foolish fish which tries to draw its breath from flesh of air And no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/cast-up-the-heart-flops-over-gasping-love-a-foolish-fish-which-tries/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [The paintings may communicate even better because people are lazy and they can look at a painting with less effort than they can read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/the-paintings-may-communicate-even-better-because-people-are-lazy-and/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [Poetry can change the world, just like any art can change the world, by changing consciousness. Of course this was the great slogan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/poetry-can-change-the-world-just-like-any-art-can-change-the-world-by/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [As I get older I perceive Life has its tail in its mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/as-i-get-older-i-perceive-life-has-its-tail-in-its-mouth/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [Almost every truly creative being alienated & expatriated in his own country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/almost-every-truly-creative-being-alienated-expatriated-in-his-own/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [The future of publishing lies with the small and medium-sized presses, because the big publishers in New York are all part of huge conglomerates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/the-future-of-publishing-lies-with-the-small-and-medium-sized-presses/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [The art has to make it on its own, without explanations, and it’s the same for poetry. If the poem or the painting has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/the-art-has-to-make-it-on-its-own-without-explanations-and-it-s-the/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [There is an ecstatic mechanism in birds that makes them fly upwards in spite of worms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/there-is-an-ecstatic-mechanism-in-birds-that-makes-them-fly-upwards/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) [Explore all 88 Lawrence Ferlinghetti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) ## More Believe 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/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [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/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you would be a poet, write living newspapers. 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