--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you are a poet, you will see clearly…" description: "\"If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper? ?To be? is to inter-be. We cannot just be by ourselves a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/nhat-hanh-515_clouds_if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-see-clearly-t_2833775.png" --- # If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a… ![“If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper? ?To be? is to inter-be. We cannot just be by ourselves alone. We have to inter-be with every other thing. This sheet of paper is, because everything else is.” quote by Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/nhat-hanh-515_clouds_if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-see-clearly-t_2833775.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/nhat-hanh-515_clouds_if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-see-clearly-t_2833775.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/nhat-hanh-515_clouds_if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-see-clearly-t_2833775.png) > “If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper? ?To be? is to inter-be. We cannot just be by ourselves alone. We have to inter-be with every other thing. This sheet of paper is, because everything else is.” [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Existence is interconnected; nothing exists in isolation, and all things share a common essence. **In simple terms:** All things inter‑be; nothing is alone. Key Takeaway Recognize and honor interdependence. Themes philosophy spirituality interconnectedness Mood contemplative peaceful Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - environmental activism - community building - mindful living Key Concepts Interbeing non‑duality Questions to Reflect On - How does interbeing influence your relationships? - What actions reflect interdependence? A Different Perspective Modern individualism can obscure interdependence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clouds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clouds/) [Floating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/floating/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inter Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inter-thing-3677253/) [Interbeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interbeing/) [Oneness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneness/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poet Clearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet-clearly-641914/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Sheet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheet/) [Sheets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheets/) ## Related quotes > [In one sheet of paper, we see everything else, the cloud, the forest, the logger. I am, therefore you are. You are, therefore I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/in-one-sheet-of-paper-we-see-everything-else-the-cloud-the-forest-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-see-clearly-that-there-is-a-cloud-floating/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“If you are a poet, you will clearly see a cloud floating on this sheet of paper. Thich Nhat Hanh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-clearly-see-a-cloud-floating-on-this-sheet/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [It's difficult not to color our perception of author's product with his personality. There are so many examples of this. What do we think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/it-s-difficult-not-to-color-our-perception-of-author-s-product-with/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [In the Light of interbeing, peace and happiness in your daily life means peace and happiness in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/in-the-light-of-interbeing-peace-and-happiness-in-your-daily-life/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. All systems of thought are guiding means; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/do-not-be-idolatrous-about-or-bound-to-any-doctrine-theory-or/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/do-not-live-with-a-vocation-that-is-harmful-to-humans-and-nature-do/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Kevin Keegan said if he had a blank sheet of paper, five names would be on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-martin/kevin-keegan-said-if-he-had-a-blank-sheet-of-paper-five-names-would/) [Alvin Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-martin/) > [I'm the guy that gets up at three in the morning to jot down an entire sheet of lyrics for something that won't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/i-m-the-guy-that-gets-up-at-three-in-the-morning-to-jot-down-an/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [America has a rap sheet. You can't police the world and tell the world how to act when you're just as bad yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/america-has-a-rap-sheet-you-can-t-police-the-world-and-tell-the-world/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [I love drawing on lead. Romans used to curse each other with sheets of it. My slave would come slide the sheet under your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shea-hembrey/i-love-drawing-on-lead-romans-used-to-curse-each-other-with-sheets-of/) [Shea Hembrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shea-hembrey/) > [Morning is a new sheet of paper for you to write on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-merriam/morning-is-a-new-sheet-of-paper-for-you-to-write-on/) [Eve Merriam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-merriam/) > [I totally accept that it's a legitimate criticism that when you are involved in the day-to-day scrum of government... that what can get lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-totally-accept-that-it-s-a-legitimate-criticism-that-when-you-are/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [Writing is just having a sheet of paper, a pen and not a shadow of an idea of what you are going to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francoise-sagan/writing-is-just-having-a-sheet-of-paper-a-pen-and-not-a-shadow-of-an/) [Francoise Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francoise-sagan/) > [“nerves twitching in the sheets -- to face the sunlight again, that's clearly trouble. I like the city better when the neon lights are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/nerves-twitching-in-the-sheets-to-face-the-sunlight-again-that-s/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## More by Nhat Hanh > [Happiness is the cessation of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/happiness-is-the-cessation-of-suffering/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We need enlightenment, not just individually but collectively, to save the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-need-enlightenment-not-just-individually-but-collectively-to-save/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-really-know-how-to-live-what-better-way-to-start-the-day-than/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Contemplating the bowl, it is possible to see the interdependent elements which give rise to the bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/contemplating-the-bowl-it-is-possible-to-see-the-interdependent/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Our joy, peace and happiness depend very much on our practice of recognizing and transforming habit energies. There are positive habit energies that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/our-joy-peace-and-happiness-depend-very-much-on-our-practice-of/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I vow to live fully in each moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-vow-to-live-fully-in-each-moment/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Silence is something that comes from your heart, not from outside. Silence doesn't mean not talking and not doing things; it means that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/silence-is-something-that-comes-from-your-heart-not-from-outside/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Freedom is the real foundation of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/freedom-is-the-real-foundation-of-happiness/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Wisdom is a living stream, not an icon to be preserved in a museum. Only when a practitioner finds the spring of wisdom in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/wisdom-is-a-living-stream-not-an-icon-to-be-preserved-in-a-museum/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We may think of peace as the absence of war, that if the great powers would reduce their weapons arsenals, we could have peace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-may-think-of-peace-as-the-absence-of-war-that-if-the-great-powers/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you are capable of brushing your teeth in mindfulness, then you will be able to enjoy the time when you take a shower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-capable-of-brushing-your-teeth-in-mindfulness-then-you/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-i-am-incapable-of-washing-dishes-joyfully-if-i-want-to-finish-them/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [When we have anger in us, we suffer. When we have discrimination in us, we suffer. When we have the complex of superiority, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-we-have-anger-in-us-we-suffer-when-we-have-discrimination-in-us/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/every-morning-when-we-wake-up-we-have-twenty-four-brand-new-hours-to/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [It is best if we do not listen to or look at the person whom we consider to be the cause of our anger.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/it-is-best-if-we-do-not-listen-to-or-look-at-the-person-whom-we/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) [Explore all 507 Nhat Hanh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## More Clouds quotes > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-lies-around-us-like-a-cloud-a-world-we-do-not-see-yet-the-sweet/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [No matter how strong the storm, how hard the rain and how vicious the wind there is always a gap in the clouds for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-greenhalgh/no-matter-how-strong-the-storm-how-hard-the-rain-and-how-vicious-the/) [Ben Greenhalgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-greenhalgh/) > [The sacred lamp of day Now dipt in Western clouds his parting day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-falconer/the-sacred-lamp-of-day-now-dipt-in-western-clouds-his-parting-day/) [William Falconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-falconer/) > [Just as the setting sun turned the clouds to liquid gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/just-as-the-setting-sun-turned-the-clouds-to-liquid-gold/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [Evil may mar the divine image and cloud its brilliance, but it cannot destroy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/evil-may-mar-the-divine-image-and-cloud-its-brilliance-but-it-cannot/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Sometimes I envy painters, it is wonderful to remain in front of a bouquet of flowers a whole morning, or even longer. A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clarence-stedman/above-the-clouds-i-lift-my-wing-to-hear-the-bells-of-heaven-ring-some/) [Edmund Clarence Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clarence-stedman/) > [If you like I'll be furious flesh elemental, or- changing to tones that the sunset arouses- if you like- I'll be extraordinary gentle, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-mayakovsky/if-you-like-i-ll-be-furious-flesh-elemental-or-changing-to-tones-that/) [Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-mayakovsky/) > [Sometimes in life the clouds are too dark to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/sometimes-in-life-the-clouds-are-too-dark-to-see/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [May you eat an unfamiliar dessert in a strange land at least once every three years. May you wake up... and start dancing while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/may-you-eat-an-unfamiliar-dessert-in-a-strange-land-at-least-once/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [We're thrilled that our partnership with Adobe has now grown to span our three clouds - Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics 365 -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-johnson/we-re-thrilled-that-our-partnership-with-adobe-has-now-grown-to-span/) [Peggy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-johnson/) [Browse all 2,443 Clouds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clouds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper? ?To be? is to inter-be. We cannot just be by ourselves alone. We have to inter-be with every other thing. This sheet of paper is, because everything else is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nhat Hanh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-see-clearly-that-there-is-a-cloud-floating-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clouds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-see-clearly-that-there-is-a-cloud-floating-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/nhat-hanh-515_clouds_if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-see-clearly-t_2833775.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/nhat-hanh-515_clouds_if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-see-clearly-t_2833775.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/nhat-hanh-515_clouds_if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-see-clearly-t_2833775.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper? ?To be? is to…” — Nhat Hanh", "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": "Nhat Hanh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you are a poet, you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-see-clearly-that-there-is-a-cloud-floating-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-a-poet-you-will-see-clearly-that-there-is-a-cloud-floating-2/#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 } } ] } ```