--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For poetry exists to break through to…" description: "\"For poetry exists to break through to below the level of reason where the angels and monsters that the amenities keep in the cellar may come out to dan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15d/may-sarton-897_amenities_for-poetry-exists-to-break-through-to-be_1864714.jpg" --- # For poetry exists to break through to below the level of… ![“For poetry exists to break through to below the level of reason where the angels and monsters that the amenities keep in the cellar may come out to dance, to rove and roar, growling and singing, to bring life back to the enclosed rooms where too often we are only 'living and partly living.” quote by May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15d/may-sarton-897_amenities_for-poetry-exists-to-break-through-to-be_1864714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15d/may-sarton-897_amenities_for-poetry-exists-to-break-through-to-be_1864714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15d/may-sarton-897_amenities_for-poetry-exists-to-break-through-to-be_1864714.jpg) > “For poetry exists to break through to below the level of reason where the angels and monsters that the amenities keep in the cellar may come out to dance, to rove and roar, growling and singing, to bring life back to the enclosed rooms where too often we are only 'living and partly living.” [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetry aims to transcend rational limits, letting imagination and primal forces revive life. **In simple terms:** Poetry breaks reason to revive life. Key Takeaway Let imagination restore vitality. Themes creativity spirituality rebirth Mood reflective inspirational Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - art therapy - creative writing - spiritual retreats - education Key Concepts aesthetics mythology Questions to Reflect On - How does poetry awaken hidden emotions? - What role do “angels and monsters” play in personal growth? A Different Perspective May be too abstract for some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) ## Related quotes > [“Some of these rooms are entirely inside rooms,” the doctor said from ahead of them. “No windows, no access to the outdoors at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/some-of-these-rooms-are-entirely-inside-rooms-the-doctor-said-from/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [“In translation of poetry; there exists a possibility of components like imagination, art of wordplay, skill of constructing internal rhythm and expand of knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-pokhrel/in-translation-of-poetry-there-exists-a-possibility-of-components/) [Suman Pokhrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-pokhrel/) > [That's one of those questions that would just love to have a pat answer. 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H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [Conversation in its happiest development is a link, equally exquisite and adequate, between mind and mind, a system by which men approach one another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/conversation-in-its-happiest-development-is-a-link-equally-exquisite/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Criticism even should not be without its charms. When quite devoid of all amenities, it is no longer literary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/criticism-even-should-not-be-without-its-charms-when-quite-devoid-of/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Our obsession with material things and lack of self-worth is evident in our need for an abundance of momentary luxuries and must-have amenities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/our-obsession-with-material-things-and-lack-of-self-worth-is-evident/) T.I ## More by May Sarton > [“I felt pain like an assault, The old pain again When the world thrusts itself inside, When we have to take in the outside,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-felt-pain-like-an-assault-the-old-pain-again-when-the-world-thrusts/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Most people have to talk so they won't hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/most-people-have-to-talk-so-they-won-t-hear/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [People who cannot feel punish those who do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/people-who-cannot-feel-punish-those-who-do/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [This suspension of one's own reality, this being entirely alone in a strange city (at times I wondered if I had lost the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/this-suspension-of-one-s-own-reality-this-being-entirely-alone-in-a/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [One must think like a hero to behave like a merely decent human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/one-must-think-like-a-hero-to-behave-like-a-merely-decent-human-being/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Real joy is becoming exceedingly rare among artists of any kind. 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Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [The definitions of humanism are many, but let us here take it to be the attitude of those men who think it an advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/the-definitions-of-humanism-are-many-but-let-us-here-take-it-to-be/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [A State divided into a small number of rich and a large number of poor will always develop a government manipulated by the rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-rich-and-a-large-number-of/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [... if a person is to be unconventional, he must be amusing or he is intolerable: for, in the nature of the case, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-fullerton-gerould/if-a-person-is-to-be-unconventional-he-must-be-amusing-or-he-is/) [Katharine Fullerton Gerould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-fullerton-gerould/) > [Mammoth is an incredible community and world-class attraction, ... Were committed to creating a vibrant living experience that matches the natural, majestic beauty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/puff-daddy/mammoth-is-an-incredible-community-and-world-class-attraction-were/) [Puff Daddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/puff-daddy/) > [Low income is related to poorer housing, poorer diet, fewer social amenities, worse working conditions. (...) After adjustment for age, sex, race, smoking, alcohol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marmot/low-income-is-related-to-poorer-housing-poorer-diet-fewer-social/) [Michael Marmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marmot/) > [The ergometer simulates the physical demands of rowing, packaging the pains with none of the amenities that make it worthwhile ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/the-ergometer-simulates-the-physical-demands-of-rowing-packaging-the/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [The real potential of electricity lies not in providing social amenities but in stimulating long-term economic development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-not-in-providing-social/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [People talk about wanting amenities - downtown is the amenity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/people-talk-about-wanting-amenities-downtown-is-the-amenity/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [How many roads must a developer walk down, before they accept the amenities package?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/how-many-roads-must-a-developer-walk-down-before-they-accept-the/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [There has never been just 'coach class' health care, but with these amenities you are seeing people get priorities according to your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-caplan/there-has-never-been-just-coach-class-health-care-but-with-these/) [Arthur Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-caplan/) > [I always say if the house I live in is comfortable, and I have all the amenities I need, then what more can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-allen/i-always-say-if-the-house-i-live-in-is-comfortable-and-i-have-all-the/) [Ray Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-allen/) Browse all 41 Amenities quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For poetry exists to break through to below the level of reason where the angels and monsters that the amenities keep in the cellar may come out to dance, to rove and roar, growling and singing, to bring life back to the enclosed rooms where too often we are only 'living and partly living.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "May Sarton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/for-poetry-exists-to-break-through-to-below-the-level-of-reason-where/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amenities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/for-poetry-exists-to-break-through-to-below-the-level-of-reason-where/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15d/may-sarton-897_amenities_for-poetry-exists-to-break-through-to-be_1864714.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15d/may-sarton-897_amenities_for-poetry-exists-to-break-through-to-be_1864714.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/15d/may-sarton-897_amenities_for-poetry-exists-to-break-through-to-be_1864714.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For poetry exists to break through to below the level of reason where the angels and monsters that the…” — May Sarton", "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": "May Sarton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For poetry exists to break through...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/for-poetry-exists-to-break-through-to-below-the-level-of-reason-where/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/for-poetry-exists-to-break-through-to-below-the-level-of-reason-where/#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 } } ] } ```