Destroying Quote by Margaret Atwood
“A lot of being a poet consists of willed ignorance. If you woke up from your trance and realized the nature of the life-threatening and dignity-destroying precipice you were walking along, you would switch into actuarial sciences immediately.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Handmaid’s Tale, 1985
Poetry often embraces deliberate ignorance; confronting harsh realities may push one toward pragmatic fields like actuarial science.
In simple terms: Poetry hides truth; harsh truth drives practicality.
Key Takeaway
Balance artistic wonder with practical awareness.
Themes
poetry
ignorance
reality
pragmatism
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- risk assessment
- ethical decision‑making
- career shifts
Key Concepts
existential choice
cognitive dissonance
Questions to Reflect On
- When does artistic abstraction become avoidance?
- Can practicality coexist with imagination?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring reality can hinder growth.
