--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who creates three to five haiku poems…" description: "\"He who creates three to five haiku poems during a lifetime is a haiku poet. He who attains to completes ten is a master.\" — Matsuo Basho" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/matsuo-basho-7207_five_he-who-creates-three-to-five-haiku-poems_1334056.jpg" --- # He who creates three to five haiku poems during a lifetime… ![“He who creates three to five haiku poems during a lifetime is a haiku poet. He who attains to completes ten is a master.” quote by Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/matsuo-basho-7207_five_he-who-creates-three-to-five-haiku-poems_1334056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/matsuo-basho-7207_five_he-who-creates-three-to-five-haiku-poems_1334056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/matsuo-basho-7207_five_he-who-creates-three-to-five-haiku-poems_1334056.jpg) > “He who creates three to five haiku poems during a lifetime is a haiku poet. He who attains to completes ten is a master.” [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating a few haiku is enough to be a poet; mastering ten elevates one to mastery. **In simple terms:** Few haiku make a poet; ten make a master. Key Takeaway Practice consistently to master the form. Themes poetry skill mastery practice Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - writing workshops - personal challenges - creative practice - teaching Key Concepts haiku creative discipline growth Questions to Reflect On - How many works define your expertise? - Is quantity or quality more important? A Different Perspective The metric of ten haiku is arbitrary and may limit artistic freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Haiku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haiku/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [Having examined three thousand haiku poems - two persimmons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaoka-shiki/having-examined-three-thousand-haiku-poems-two-persimmons/) [Masaoka Shiki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaoka-shiki/) > [The haiku that reveals seventy to eighty percent of its subject is good. Those that reveal fifty to sixty percent, we never tire of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/the-haiku-that-reveals-seventy-to-eighty-percent-of-its-subject-is/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Awakened at midnight by the sound of the water jar cracking from the ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/awakened-at-midnight-by-the-sound-of-the-water-jar-cracking-from-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“How many midget feet can you fit in your shoes? Depends on how big your penis is. 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(Great love)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kipyang/sweetly-be-kissed-i-really-miss-every-hug-and-kiss-a-great-love-is/) Kipyang > [“Secure in his flight Rider on the constant winds Hawk flies through his days Looks then to the east Prompted by fate’s gentle breeze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-robison/secure-in-his-flight-rider-on-the-constant-winds-hawk-flies-through/) Steve Robison > [Poems are language turned into art; sound and sense matter; they can be as long or longer than The Odyssey or as short or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-mcgrath/poems-are-language-turned-into-art-sound-and-sense-matter-they-can-be/) [Campbell McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-mcgrath/) > [Writing a picture book is like writing 'War and Peace' in Haiku.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/writing-a-picture-book-is-like-writing-war-and-peace-in-haiku/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [“If this were real life, Ed would have looked at her neck- bite, dead, burp, credits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mecum/if-this-were-real-life-ed-would-have-looked-at-her-neck-bite-dead/) [Ryan Mecum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mecum/) > [“Hi! My little hut Is newly-thatched I see... Blue morning-glories”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa/hi-my-little-hut-is-newly-thatched-i-see-blue-morning-glories/) Issa > [“Self care is putting Your own name on your schedule In magic marker!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/self-care-is-putting-your-own-name-on-your-schedule-in-magic-marker/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [The basis of art is change in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-basis-of-art-is-change-in-the-universe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So I don’t think I’ll make Poet Laureate, but I swear I’m not twisted and bitter, If finely-wrought talents don’t weigh in the balance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosy-cole/so-i-don-t-think-i-ll-make-poet-laureate-but-i-swear-i-m-not-twisted/) Rosy Cole > [“Cocoon's cry to first fly, Travels thousands of miles— So much in so little life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-negi/cocoon-s-cry-to-first-fly-travels-thousands-of-miles-so-much-in-so/) [Ritu Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-negi/) ## More by Matsuo Basho > [Go to the pine if you want to learn about the pine, or to the bamboo if you want to learn about the bamboo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/go-to-the-pine-if-you-want-to-learn-about-the-pine-or-to-the-bamboo/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Without the bitterest cold that penetrates to the very bone, how can plum blossoms send forth their fragrance to the whole world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/without-the-bitterest-cold-that-penetrates-to-the-very-bone-how-can/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Do not resemble me-Never be like a musk melon Cut in two identical halves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/do-not-resemble-me-never-be-like-a-musk-melon-cut-in-two-identical/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [When I speak My lips feel cold - The autumn wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/when-i-speak-my-lips-feel-cold-the-autumn-wind/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [“In the end, without skill or talent, I've given myself over entirely to poetry. Po Chu-i labored at it until he nearly burst. Tu…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/in-the-end-without-skill-or-talent-i-ve-given-myself-over-entirely-to/) [Matsuo Bashô](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Nothing in the cry of cicadas suggests they are about to die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/nothing-in-the-cry-of-cicadas-suggests-they-are-about-to-die/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [A flute with no holes is not a flute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/a-flute-with-no-holes-is-not-a-flute/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [The sea darkens And a wild duck s call Is faintly white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/the-sea-darkens-and-a-wild-duck-s-call-is-faintly-white/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/do-not-seek-to-follow-in-the-footsteps-of-the-wise-seek-what-they/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Learn the rules, and then forget them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/learn-the-rules-and-then-forget-them/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Go to the object. Leave your subjective preoccupation with yourself. Do not impose yourself on the object. Become one with the object. Plunge deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/go-to-the-object-leave-your-subjective-preoccupation-with-yourself-do/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [A weathered skeleton in windy fields of memory, piercing like a knife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/a-weathered-skeleton-in-windy-fields-of-memory-piercing-like-a-knife/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [the universe and its beings are a complementarity of empty infinity, intimate interrelationships, and total uniqueness of each and every being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/the-universe-and-its-beings-are-a-complementarity-of-empty-infinity/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [The old pond, ah! A frog jumps in: The water's sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/the-old-pond-ah-a-frog-jumps-in-the-water-s-sound/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Without bitterest cold that penetrates to the very bone, how can plum blossoms send forth their fragrance all over the world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/without-bitterest-cold-that-penetrates-to-the-very-bone-how-can-plum/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) [Explore all 93 Matsuo Basho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) ## More Five quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. 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I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [I remember my friend Johnny von Neumann used to say, 'with four parameters I can fit an elephant and with five I can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/i-remember-my-friend-johnny-von-neumann-used-to-say-with-four/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [That is the real problem of depression - a condition which will affect an estimated one in five of the population at some point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-andreae/that-is-the-real-problem-of-depression-a-condition-which-will-affect/) [Giles Andreae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-andreae/) > [I don't think you should ever say, 'This is the last time'. Music isn't like that. You'll be sitting there not wishing to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-say-this-is-the-last-time-music-isn-t/) [Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/) > [I don't think we need a featuring though , because five of us are enough .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hyun-joong/i-don-t-think-we-need-a-featuring-though-because-five-of-us-are-enough/) [Kim Hyun-joong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hyun-joong/) > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I am naturally a thin person and I am 5'1" and putting on five or 10 pounds, that looks like a lot on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/i-am-naturally-a-thin-person-and-i-am-5-1-and-putting-on-five-or-10/) [Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/) > [The official independence celebration was going to be held over four or five days, and a group of journalists from all over the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/the-official-independence-celebration-was-going-to-be-held-over-four/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [Man, you'd be surprised how much I'm learning - not only about myself, but about the musicians who came before me. You don't realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-hubbard/man-you-d-be-surprised-how-much-i-m-learning-not-only-about-myself/) [Freddie Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-hubbard/) > [A lot of times, when people send me books to read - new writers mostly - I find that the book is still in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/a-lot-of-times-when-people-send-me-books-to-read-new-writers-mostly-i/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) Browse all 6,265 Five quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who creates three to five haiku poems during a lifetime is a haiku poet. 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