---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be under occupation, to be under…"
description: "\"To be under occupation, to be under siege, is not a good inspiration for poetry.\" — Mahmoud Darwish"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/mahmoud-darwish-6881_inspiration_to-be-under-occupation-to-be-under-siege_1166228.jpg"
---

#  To be under occupation, to be under siege, is not a good…

![“To be under occupation, to be under siege, is not a good inspiration for poetry.” quote by Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/mahmoud-darwish-6881_inspiration_to-be-under-occupation-to-be-under-siege_1166228.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/mahmoud-darwish-6881_inspiration_to-be-under-occupation-to-be-under-siege_1166228.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/mahmoud-darwish-6881_inspiration_to-be-under-occupation-to-be-under-siege_1166228.jpg)

> “To be under occupation, to be under siege, is not a good inspiration for poetry.”

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Living under military control stifles creative inspiration and emotional freedom

**In simple terms:** Occupation hinders poetic inspiration

Key Takeaway

Seek freedom to nurture creativity

Themes

politics creativity oppression

Mood

somber reflective

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- war zones
- censored societies
- personal reflection
- artistic practice

Key Concepts

psychology artistic expression

Questions to Reflect On

- How does oppression shape artistic voice?
- Can art thrive despite constraints?

A Different Perspective

Even under oppression, inner resilience can spark art

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupation/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Siege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/siege/) [Under siege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/under-siege/)

## Related quotes

> [We don't have a state, neither in Gaza nor in the West Bank. Gaza is under siege and the West Bank is occupied. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/we-don-t-have-a-state-neither-in-gaza-nor-in-the-west-bank-gaza-is/)

[Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/)

> [Even in those cities which seem to enjoy the blessings of peace, and where the arts florish, the inhabitants are devoured by envy, cares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/even-in-those-cities-which-seem-to-enjoy-the-blessings-of-peace-and/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [Many people in Europe and the U.S. dispute the thesis that we are living through a clash of civilisations between Islam and the west.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/many-people-in-europe-and-the-u-s-dispute-the-thesis-that-we-are/)

[Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/)

> [American culture is no longer created by the people... A free, authentic life is no longer possible in AmericaTM today. We are being manipulated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalle-lasn/american-culture-is-no-longer-created-by-the-people-a-free-authentic/)

[Kalle Lasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalle-lasn/)

> [childhood was not a time in a person's life, but a country, a country under siege, from which certain individuals were taken too soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-green/childhood-was-not-a-time-in-a-person-s-life-but-a-country-a-country/)

[Kate Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-green/)

> [I cannot imagine a worse job than being president of these Untied States in these most trying of times. President Barack Obama has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-broderick/i-cannot-imagine-a-worse-job-than-being-president-of-these-untied/)

[Beth Broderick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-broderick/)

> [Exactly when people are in turmoil is the time that the entertainment business has always been at its best. Because people don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-richie/exactly-when-people-are-in-turmoil-is-the-time-that-the-entertainment/)

[Lionel Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-richie/)

> [The Mexico - United States border was always porous. People have been going and coming back since before the Spaniards arrived. Now we're seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/the-mexico-united-states-border-was-always-porous-people-have-been/)

[Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/)

> [Energy is under siege by the Obama administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/energy-is-under-siege-by-the-obama-administration/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [I had in mind going worse than waterboarding. It's enough. We have right now a country that's under siege. It's under siege from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-had-in-mind-going-worse-than-waterboarding-it-s-enough-we-have/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [This boa, the American columns, are being besieged between Basra and other towns north, west, south and west of Basra… Now even the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/this-boa-the-american-columns-are-being-besieged-between-basra-and/)

[Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/)

> [Cultural America is under siege. And as the Soviet experience illustrates, ideology is a weak glue to hold together people otherwise lacking racial, ethnic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/cultural-america-is-under-siege-and-as-the-soviet-experience/)

[Samuel P. Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-p-huntington/)

> [How can you lay siege to a whole country? Who is really under siege now? Baghdad cannot be besieged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/how-can-you-lay-siege-to-a-whole-country-who-is-really-under-siege/)

[Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/)

> [Violence has to end. And Israelis have a bright to defend themselves against any violence that is attacking innocent people with a knife in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/violence-has-to-end-and-israelis-have-a-bright-to-defend-themselves/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [The home is under siege. So many families are being destroyed...If anyone can change the dismal situation into which we are sliding, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-home-is-under-siege-so-many-families-are-being-destroyed-if/)

[Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/)

## More by Mahmoud Darwish

> [“I see a bird carrying me and carrying you, with us as its wings, beyond the dream, to a journey that has no end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/i-see-a-bird-carrying-me-and-carrying-you-with-us-as-its-wings-beyond/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [Life defined only as the opposite of death is not life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/life-defined-only-as-the-opposite-of-death-is-not-life/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [My love, I fear the silence of your hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/my-love-i-fear-the-silence-of-your-hands/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [“I'll search in mythology and archeology and in every -ology to my old name. one of the goddesses of Canaan will side with me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/i-ll-search-in-mythology-and-archeology-and-in-every-ology-to-my-old/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [I see what I want of Love... I see horses making the meadow dance, fifty guitars sighing, and a swarm of bees suckling the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/i-see-what-i-want-of-love-i-see-horses-making-the-meadow-dance-fifty/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [I have learned and dismantled all the words in order to draw from them a single word: Home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/i-have-learned-and-dismantled-all-the-words-in-order-to-draw-from/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [My homeland is not a suitcase, and I am no traveller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/my-homeland-is-not-a-suitcase-and-i-am-no-traveller/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [Where can I free myself of the homeland in my body?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/where-can-i-free-myself-of-the-homeland-in-my-body/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [She does not love you. Your metaphors thrill her you are her poet. But that's all there's to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/she-does-not-love-you-your-metaphors-thrill-her-you-are-her-poet-but/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [I've built my homeland, I've even founded my state - in my language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/i-ve-built-my-homeland-i-ve-even-founded-my-state-in-my-language/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [“Please take your time. I want you to kill me slowly so I can write my last poem to my wife's heart. They laughed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/please-take-your-time-i-want-you-to-kill-me-slowly-so-i-can-write-my/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [I want to find a language that transforms language itself into steel for the spirit--a language to use against these sparkling insects, these jets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/i-want-to-find-a-language-that-transforms-language-itself-into-steel/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [Nothing, nothing justifies terrorism,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/nothing-nothing-justifies-terrorism/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [Sometimes I feel as if I am read before I write. When I write a poem about my mother, Palestinians think my mother is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/sometimes-i-feel-as-if-i-am-read-before-i-write-when-i-write-a-poem/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

> [... For me it is essential, essential for the poet to have a new toast, new songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/for-me-it-is-essential-essential-for-the-poet-to-have-a-new-toast-new/)

[Mahmoud Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

[Explore all 94 Mahmoud Darwish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/)

## More Inspiration quotes

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/)

[Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/)

> [“Success is for a man whose stories of sruggles and chalenges are inspirations to and up coming generation..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-sanaba-c/success-is-for-a-man-whose-stories-of-sruggles-and-chalenges-are/)

Nelly sanaba .c

> [Loving you is the best feeling have ever had, and you loving me is the greater gift I have..I will be brave, I wont…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fash/loving-you-is-the-best-feeling-have-ever-had-and-you-loving-me-is-the/)

Fash

> [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/)

Isaiah Harden (Me

> [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/)

[Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/)

> [I have learned that you can go anywhere you want to go and do anything you want to do and buy all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c-2/i-have-learned-that-you-can-go-anywhere-you-want-to-go-and-do/)

[C JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c-2/)

> [Every human creates his own problems. Problems are ones private property and we shouldnt meddle into them self-initiatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/every-human-creates-his-own-problems-problems-are-ones-private/)

[Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/)

> [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Be proud of who you are &amp; who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/)

[Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/)

> [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

> [“Complete - Yourself! Others may only enhance your completeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lashauna-d-hinton/complete-yourself-others-may-only-enhance-your-completeness/)

Lashauna D. Hinton

[Browse all 17,129 Inspiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "To be under occupation, to be under siege, is not a good inspiration for poetry.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mahmoud Darwish"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/to-be-under-occupation-to-be-under-siege-is-not-a-good-inspiration/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Inspiration"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/to-be-under-occupation-to-be-under-siege-is-not-a-good-inspiration/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/mahmoud-darwish-6881_inspiration_to-be-under-occupation-to-be-under-siege_1166228.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/mahmoud-darwish-6881_inspiration_to-be-under-occupation-to-be-under-siege_1166228.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e3/mahmoud-darwish-6881_inspiration_to-be-under-occupation-to-be-under-siege_1166228.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To be under occupation, to be under siege, is not a good inspiration for poetry.” — Mahmoud Darwish",
                "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": "Mahmoud Darwish",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-darwish/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "To be under occupation, to be...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/to-be-under-occupation-to-be-under-siege-is-not-a-good-inspiration/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-darwish/to-be-under-occupation-to-be-under-siege-is-not-a-good-inspiration/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
