--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's something narcissistic in the…" description: "\"“There's something narcissistic in the phrase \"collected poems.\" Who's collecting them? The poem. How hard is that? That's not a real collection. Now i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/nicholson-baker-3405_good-job_there-s-something-narcissistic-in-the-ph_2039848.png" --- # There's something narcissistic in the phrase "collected… ![“There's something narcissistic in the phrase "collected poems." Who's collecting them? The poem. How hard is that? That's not a real collection. Now if he had made a collection of water fountains, or of oven mitts, that would be a collection. Or if he'd collected editions of Festus, the long mad…” quote by Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/nicholson-baker-3405_good-job_there-s-something-narcissistic-in-the-ph_2039848.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/nicholson-baker-3405_good-job_there-s-something-narcissistic-in-the-ph_2039848.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d7/nicholson-baker-3405_good-job_there-s-something-narcissistic-in-the-ph_2039848.png) > ““There's something narcissistic in the phrase "collected poems." Who's collecting them? The poem. How hard is that? That's not a real collection. Now if he had made a collection of water fountains, or of oven mitts, that would be a collection. Or if he'd collected editions of Festus, the long mad poem written somewhere in the nineteenth century by a lost soul named Bailey--that would be an achievement. But collecting your own poems? What's so great about that? And mixing and mingling them in with some new? New and and Collected Poems? Oh, well! Good job. Nice going.”” [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker critiques the notion of “collected poems,” questioning the validity of self‑collection versus tangible objects. **In simple terms:** They doubt the value of compiling one's own poems. Key Takeaway Consider what truly constitutes a collection. Themes literature self‑reflection critique Mood skeptical analytical Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - literary criticism - creative writing - publishing decisions - academic analysis Key Concepts ontology authenticity artistic value Questions to Reflect On - What makes a collection meaningful? - How does intent shape the value of a work? A Different Perspective Might dismiss genuine artistic intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Collected Poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collected-poems-3790348/) [Collecting Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collecting-poem-3790345/) [Collecting Poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collecting-poems-3790346/) [Good job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-job/) [Oh well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oh-well/) [Phrase Collected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phrase-collected-3790349/) [Poems Collecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poems-collecting-3790347/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [“One thing to which I am most grateful Is that my work slumbers on,sweetly, Not yet discovered, And shall not conjure that most Haunting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-wickham/one-thing-to-which-i-am-most-grateful-is-that-my-work-slumbers-on/) [Philip Wickham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-wickham/) > [Ginsberg's Collected Poems contains a wonderful poem about making it with Neal Cassady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/ginsberg-s-collected-poems-contains-a-wonderful-poem-about-making-it/) [Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/) > [“It was a page he had Found in the handbook Of heartbreak. 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