--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some good, some so-so, and lots plain…" description: "\"Some good, some so-so, and lots plain bad: that's how a book of poems is made, my Friend.\" — Martial" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/martial-2684_book_some-good-some-so-so-and-lots-plain-bad_804386.png" --- # Some good, some so-so, and lots plain bad: that's how a… ![“Some good, some so-so, and lots plain bad: that's how a book of poems is made, my Friend.” quote by Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/martial-2684_book_some-good-some-so-so-and-lots-plain-bad_804386.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/martial-2684_book_some-good-some-so-so-and-lots-plain-bad_804386.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/martial-2684_book_some-good-some-so-so-and-lots-plain-bad_804386.png) > “Some good, some so-so, and lots plain bad: that's how a book of poems is made, my Friend.” [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A mixed-quality collection of poems reflects varied effort and talent, with many being mediocre. **In simple terms:** Not all poems are great; many are average. Key Takeaway Accept inconsistency and focus on improving the weaker pieces. Themes creativity criticism artistic growth Mood reflective thoughtful Type analysis inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - editing sessions - peer reviews - publishing decisions Key Concepts Literary evaluation self‑assessment Questions to Reflect On - What makes a poem resonate with you? - How can you turn “plain bad” into learning? A Different Perspective Perfection is unattainable; striving for uniform excellence may stifle experimentation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poems/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's true to say that in 1973 I could read every book of poems that was published in a year, and I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/i-think-it-s-true-to-say-that-in-1973-i-could-read-every-book-of/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [I write a book of poems and then the characters won't go away so I write a play from that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-cavalieri/i-write-a-book-of-poems-and-then-the-characters-won-t-go-away-so-i/) [Grace Cavalieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-cavalieri/) > [I can't imagine having the courage to ask a publisher to do a whole book of my poems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-busch/i-can-t-imagine-having-the-courage-to-ask-a-publisher-to-do-a-whole/) [Frederick Busch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-busch/) > [My first book of poems was published privately in 1949. 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Live today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/tomorrow-s-life-is-too-late-live-today/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [“Laugh if you are wise, girl, laugh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/laugh-if-you-are-wise-girl-laugh/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [Generosity during life is a very different thing from generosity in the hour of death; one proceeds from genuine liberality, and benevolence; the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/generosity-during-life-is-a-very-different-thing-from-generosity-in/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [“You ask what a nice girl will do? She won't give an inch,but she won't say no.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/you-ask-what-a-nice-girl-will-do-she-won-t-give-an-inch-but-she-won-t/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [A novice always behaves with propriety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/a-novice-always-behaves-with-propriety/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [For wealth's now given to none but to the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/for-wealth-s-now-given-to-none-but-to-the-rich/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [You should not fear, nor yet should you wish for your last day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/you-should-not-fear-nor-yet-should-you-wish-for-your-last-day/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [You crystal break, for fear of breaking it: Careless and careful hands like faults commit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/you-crystal-break-for-fear-of-breaking-it-careless-and-careful-hands/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [Rarity gives a charm; so early fruits and winter roses are the most prized; and coyness sets off an extravagant mistress, while the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/rarity-gives-a-charm-so-early-fruits-and-winter-roses-are-the-most/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [Be not too thick with anybody; your joys will be fewer, and so will pains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/be-not-too-thick-with-anybody-your-joys-will-be-fewer-and-so-will/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [No amount of misfortune will satisfy the man who is not satisfied with reading a hundred epigrams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/no-amount-of-misfortune-will-satisfy-the-man-who-is-not-satisfied/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [He who weighs his burdens, can bear them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/he-who-weighs-his-burdens-can-bear-them/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) [Explore all 155 Martial quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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