--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a direct line to human feeling…" description: "\"As a direct line to human feeling, empathic experience, genuine language and detail, poetry is everything that headline news is not. It takes us inside..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_confidence_as-a-direct-line-to-human-feeling-empath_1069947.jpg" --- # As a direct line to human feeling, empathic experience… ![“As a direct line to human feeling, empathic experience, genuine language and detail, poetry is everything that headline news is not. It takes us inside situations, helps us imagine life from more than one perspective, honors imagery and metaphor - those great tools of thought - and deepens our…” quote by Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_confidence_as-a-direct-line-to-human-feeling-empath_1069947.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_confidence_as-a-direct-line-to-human-feeling-empath_1069947.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_confidence_as-a-direct-line-to-human-feeling-empath_1069947.jpg) > “As a direct line to human feeling, empathic experience, genuine language and detail, poetry is everything that headline news is not. It takes us inside situations, helps us imagine life from more than one perspective, honors imagery and metaphor - those great tools of thought - and deepens our confidence in a meaningful world.” [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetry offers deep, empathetic insight into human experience, contrasting with superficial headlines, using imagery and metaphor to broaden perspective. **In simple terms:** Poetry provides deep human insight unlike headlines. Key Takeaway Seek poetry for richer understanding of life. Themes empathy perspective creativity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - reading poetry - creative writing - education - media criticism Key Concepts metaphor imagery human experience Questions to Reflect On - How does poetry change your view of news? - What metaphors resonate with you? A Different Perspective Poetry may not reach mass audiences quickly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Confidence Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence-meaningful-2659761/) [Detail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detail/) [Details](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/details/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Genuine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genuine/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Headline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/headline/) [Headlines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/headlines/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helps/) [Helps Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helps-imagine-1164512/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Honors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honors/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Imagery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagery/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inside/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-poetry-600084/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/line/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry Headline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-headline-2659760/) [Poetry is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-is/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situations/) [Takes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [We all get lost along the way, but hopefully we figure out some sort of path. It helps if you can imagine the process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/we-all-get-lost-along-the-way-but-hopefully-we-figure-out-some-sort/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [The Language of Poetry may have many Tongues but her Kiss is Everlasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-ernesto-cepeda-poet/the-language-of-poetry-may-have-many-tongues-but-her-kiss-is/) [Adrian Ernesto Cepeda Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-ernesto-cepeda-poet/) > [The language of poetry is not stuck in place. Nothing can own language. I think, however, the genre of poetry itself is very feminine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hyesoon/the-language-of-poetry-is-not-stuck-in-place-nothing-can-own-language/) [Kim Hyesoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hyesoon/) > [Since the boundary of the world of poetry is fluid, the language in it is also fluid. Hence, the language that is outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hyesoon/since-the-boundary-of-the-world-of-poetry-is-fluid-the-language-in-it/) [Kim Hyesoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hyesoon/) > [“Language is the element of definition, the defining and descriptive incantation. It puts the coin between our teeth. It whistles the boat up. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wright/language-is-the-element-of-definition-the-defining-and-descriptive/) [Charles Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wright/) > [“The language of poetry is the exact opposite of the language of mass media,” I said, meaninglessly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/the-language-of-poetry-is-the-exact-opposite-of-the-language-of-mass/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [The language of the age is never the language of poetry, except among the French, whose verse, where the thought or image does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/the-language-of-the-age-is-never-the-language-of-poetry-except-among/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [“The language of poetry is a language of deep intimacy that is meant to touch the human spirit and awaken it to the mystery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-starbuck/the-language-of-poetry-is-a-language-of-deep-intimacy-that-is-meant/) [Ron Starbuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-starbuck/) > [“What fascinated me about English was what I later recognized as its hybrid etymoogy: blunt Anglo-Saxon concreteness, sleek Norman French urbanity, and polysyllabic Greco-Roman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/what-fascinated-me-about-english-was-what-i-later-recognized-as-its/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I don't have time for language poetry anymore. I don't want to throw people off anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/i-don-t-have-time-for-language-poetry-anymore-i-don-t-want-to-throw/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [Language and poetry are endlessly fascinating. The most brilliant work can be so sparse yet so full of meaning. That's what I'm looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/language-and-poetry-are-endlessly-fascinating-the-most-brilliant-work/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [I definitely wish to distinguish American poetry from British or other English language poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-wakoski/i-definitely-wish-to-distinguish-american-poetry-from-british-or/) [Diane Wakoski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-wakoski/) > [“A tough life needs a tough language—and that is what poetry is. That is what literature offers—a language powerful enough to say how it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/a-tough-life-needs-a-tough-language-and-that-is-what-poetry-is-that/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [To me, a poem is almost like someone whispering to another person, or you hear the whispering in your head. I hope with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/to-me-a-poem-is-almost-like-someone-whispering-to-another-person-or/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [In the language of poetry, where every word is weighed, nothing is usual or normal. Not a single stone and not a single cloud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wislawa-szymborska/in-the-language-of-poetry-where-every-word-is-weighed-nothing-is/) [Wislawa Szymborska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wislawa-szymborska/) ## More by Naomi Shihab Nye > [“No test can measure anything important.   On”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/no-test-can-measure-anything-important-on/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“But I know we need to keep warm here on earth And when your shawl is as thin as mine is, you tell stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/but-i-know-we-need-to-keep-warm-here-on-earth-and-when-your-shawl-is/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [I support all people on earth who have bodies like and unlike my body, skins and moles and old scars, secret and public hair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/i-support-all-people-on-earth-who-have-bodies-like-and-unlike-my-body/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“We walked where the ancient pier juts into the sea. Stood on the rim of the pool, by the circle of black boulders. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/we-walked-where-the-ancient-pier-juts-into-the-sea-stood-on-the-rim/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“rounded shoulders, the shoulders of women no one has touched for a long time. Men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/rounded-shoulders-the-shoulders-of-women-no-one-has-touched-for-a/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [I can never see fashion models, lean angular cheeks, strutting hips and blooming hair, without thinking of the skulls at the catacombs in Lima,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/i-can-never-see-fashion-models-lean-angular-cheeks-strutting-hips-and/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [I am looking for the human who admits his flaws Who shocks the adversary By being kinder not stronger What would that be like?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/i-am-looking-for-the-human-who-admits-his-flaws-who-shocks-the/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“Remembering your mistakes more acutely than any minor success. This was the worst. The things that kept you up at night. Tip a waiter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/remembering-your-mistakes-more-acutely-than-any-minor-success-this/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“Grief is an ambush. You’re walking along feeling fine, look down, see a leaf, and begin to weep. —Jack”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/grief-is-an-ambush-you-re-walking-along-feeling-fine-look-down-see-a/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“Every day is a poetry day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/every-day-is-a-poetry-day/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [Teaching and writing are separate, but serve/feed one another in so many ways. Writing travels the road inward, teaching, the road out - helping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/teaching-and-writing-are-separate-but-serve-feed-one-another-in-so/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [What did exclusivity ever have to offer but a distorted, unrealistic view of the world? People who stuck only to their own kind were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/what-did-exclusivity-ever-have-to-offer-but-a-distorted-unrealistic/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [The thousands small birds of January in their smooth soaring cloud finding the trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/the-thousands-small-birds-of-january-in-their-smooth-soaring-cloud/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [When allowed to return to the class, your feelings of humility and lonesomeness will render you a much finer student and person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/when-allowed-to-return-to-the-class-your-feelings-of-humility-and/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [You know, those of us who leave our homes in the morning and expect to find them there when we go back - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/you-know-those-of-us-who-leave-our-homes-in-the-morning-and-expect-to/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) [Explore all 115 Naomi Shihab Nye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a direct line to human feeling, empathic experience, genuine language and detail, poetry is everything that headline news is not. 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