--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We don't read and write poetry because…" description: "\"“We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/n-h-kleinbaum-42373_dead-poets-society_we-don-t-read-and-write-poetry-because-i_2315639.jpg" --- # We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read… ![“We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these…” quote by N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/n-h-kleinbaum-42373_dead-poets-society_we-don-t-read-and-write-poetry-because-i_2315639.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/n-h-kleinbaum-42373_dead-poets-society_we-don-t-read-and-write-poetry-because-i_2315639.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/n-h-kleinbaum-42373_dead-poets-society_we-don-t-read-and-write-poetry-because-i_2315639.jpg) > ““We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play \*goes on\* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”” [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetry fulfills the emotional and existential needs of humanity, offering meaning beyond practical pursuits, urging each person to contribute their unique voice. **In simple terms:** Poetry gives life meaning. Key Takeaway Write your own verse. Themes art existence meaning Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - personal journaling - creative workshops - public readings Key Concepts poetry humanism identity Questions to Reflect On - What does your personal verse express? - How can poetry coexist with daily responsibilities? A Different Perspective May romanticize poetry over practical needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dead poets society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-poets-society/) [Human race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-race/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-poetry/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Read And Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-and-write/) [Romance love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance-love/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“We don't read and write poetry because it is cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-schulman/we-don-t-read-and-write-poetry-because-it-is-cute-we-read-and-write/) [Tom Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-schulman/) > [If I were a teacher, I would like to teach freshman English - so I could be the Robin Williams type in 'Dead Poets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-johnson/if-i-were-a-teacher-i-would-like-to-teach-freshman-english-so-i-could-2/) [Jake Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-johnson/) > [“He reminds me of Robin Williams at the end of Dead Poets Society - there's a little smile on his face, but you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wittlinger/he-reminds-me-of-robin-williams-at-the-end-of-dead-poets-society/) [Ellen Wittlinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-wittlinger/) > [If I were a teacher, I would like to teach freshman English - so I could be the Robin Williams type in Dead Poets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-m-johnson/if-i-were-a-teacher-i-would-like-to-teach-freshman-english-so-i-could/) [Jake M. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-m-johnson/) > [We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/we-don-t-read-and-write-poetry-because-it-s-cute-we-read-and-write-3/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [“We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/we-don-t-read-and-write-poetry-because-it-s-cute-we-read-and-write/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“I would think if you were going to quote Whitman you'd go for something not taken from Leaves Of Grass. Especially if you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-clifford/i-would-think-if-you-were-going-to-quote-whitman-you-d-go-for/) [Leah Clifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-clifford/) > [Carpe diem. (Seize the day.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/carpe-diem-seize-the-day/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber'd here While these visions did appear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-this-and-all-is-mended-that-you-2/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Avoid using the word 'very' because it's lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don't use very sad, use morose. Language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/avoid-using-the-word-very-because-it-s-lazy-a-man-is-not-very-tired/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [Ignore reality, there's nothing you can do about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-imbruglia/ignore-reality-there-s-nothing-you-can-do-about-it/) [Natalie Imbruglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-imbruglia/) > [I was offered 'Pretty Woman.' I was offered 'Big' and 'Dead Poets Society.' But what was important to me in those years was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/i-was-offered-pretty-woman-i-was-offered-big-and-dead-poets-society/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [It was when I was on the set of Dead Poets Society.There was actor,his name was Norman Lloyd. One day he took us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/it-was-when-i-was-on-the-set-of-dead-poets-society-there-was-actor/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [But only in their dreams can men be truly free. It was always thus and always thus will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/but-only-in-their-dreams-can-men-be-truly-free-it-was-always-thus-and/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-always-thought-the-idea-of-education-was-to-learn-to-think-for/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) ## More by N.H. Kleinbaum > [“But poetry, romance, love, beauty? These are what we stay alive for!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-h-kleinbaum/but-poetry-romance-love-beauty-these-are-what-we-stay-alive-for/) [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) > [“That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-h-kleinbaum/that-the-powerful-play-goes-on-and-you-may-contribute-a-verse/) [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) > [“They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-h-kleinbaum/they-re-not-that-different-from-you-are-they-same-haircuts-full-of/) [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) > [“Doğrular, her zaman insanın ayaklarını açıkta bırakan bir battaniye gibidir.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-h-kleinbaum/do-rular-her-zaman-insan-n-ayaklar-n-a-kta-b-rakan-bir-battaniye/) [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) > [“Carpe Diem,” Keating whispered loudly. “Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-h-kleinbaum/carpe-diem-keating-whispered-loudly-seize-the-day-make-your-lives/) [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) > [“How do we, like Walt, permit our own true natures to speak? How do we strip ourselves of prejudices, habits, influences? The answer, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-h-kleinbaum/how-do-we-like-walt-permit-our-own-true-natures-to-speak-how-do-we/) [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) > [“And medecine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love: these are what we stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-h-kleinbaum/and-medecine-law-business-engineering-these-are-noble-pursuits-and/) [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) > [“If you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? - Carpe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-h-kleinbaum/if-you-listen-real-close-you-can-hear-them-whisper-their-legacy-to-2/) [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) > [“When you read, don't consider only what the author thinks, but take time to consider what you think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-h-kleinbaum/when-you-read-don-t-consider-only-what-the-author-thinks-but-take/) [N.H. Kleinbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) [Explore all 10 N.H. Kleinbaum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-h-kleinbaum/) ## More Dead poets society quotes > [I always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-always-thought-the-idea-of-education-was-to-learn-to-think-for/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [But only in their dreams can men be truly free. It was always thus and always thus will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/but-only-in-their-dreams-can-men-be-truly-free-it-was-always-thus-and/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [It was when I was on the set of Dead Poets Society.There was actor,his name was Norman Lloyd. One day he took us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/it-was-when-i-was-on-the-set-of-dead-poets-society-there-was-actor/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [I was offered 'Pretty Woman.' I was offered 'Big' and 'Dead Poets Society.' But what was important to me in those years was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/i-was-offered-pretty-woman-i-was-offered-big-and-dead-poets-society/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [Ignore reality, there's nothing you can do about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-imbruglia/ignore-reality-there-s-nothing-you-can-do-about-it/) [Natalie Imbruglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-imbruglia/) > [Avoid using the word 'very' because it's lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don't use very sad, use morose. Language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/avoid-using-the-word-very-because-it-s-lazy-a-man-is-not-very-tired/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber'd here While these visions did appear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-this-and-all-is-mended-that-you-2/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Carpe diem. (Seize the day.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/carpe-diem-seize-the-day/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Being gay facilitated my capacity for shame. As a child, I carried around this thing that gradually became this big dark secret. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derren-brown/being-gay-facilitated-my-capacity-for-shame-as-a-child-i-carried/) [Derren Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derren-brown/) > [I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-went-to-the-woods-because-i-wished-to-live-deliberately/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [If I were a teacher, I would like to teach freshman English - so I could be the Robin Williams type in Dead Poets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-m-johnson/if-i-were-a-teacher-i-would-like-to-teach-freshman-english-so-i-could/) [Jake M. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-m-johnson/) > [I am that merry wanderer of the night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-am-that-merry-wanderer-of-the-night/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“He reminds me of Robin Williams at the end of Dead Poets Society - there's a little smile on his face, but you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-wittlinger/he-reminds-me-of-robin-williams-at-the-end-of-dead-poets-society/) [Ellen Wittlinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-wittlinger/) > [The experience on that movie (Dead Poets Society) was, for lack of a better term, life-altering. Peter Weir has a unique talent for making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/the-experience-on-that-movie-dead-poets-society-was-for-lack-of-a/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-stand-upon-my-desk-to-remind-myself-that-we-must-constantly-look-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 34 Dead poets society quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-poets-society/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. 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