--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Often one spends weeks trying to write a…" description: "\"“Often one spends weeks trying to write a poem out of the conscious mind that never comes to anything - these are sort of 'ideal' poems that one feels ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/philip-larkin-1822_conscious-mind_often-one-spends-weeks-trying-to-write-a_1945320.jpg" --- # Often one spends weeks trying to write a poem out of the… ![“Often one spends weeks trying to write a poem out of the conscious mind that never comes to anything - these are sort of 'ideal' poems that one feels ought to be written, but don't because (I fancy) they lack the vital spark of self-interest. A 'real' poem is a pleasure to write.” quote by Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/philip-larkin-1822_conscious-mind_often-one-spends-weeks-trying-to-write-a_1945320.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/philip-larkin-1822_conscious-mind_often-one-spends-weeks-trying-to-write-a_1945320.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/philip-larkin-1822_conscious-mind_often-one-spends-weeks-trying-to-write-a_1945320.jpg) > ““Often one spends weeks trying to write a poem out of the conscious mind that never comes to anything - these are sort of 'ideal' poems that one feels ought to be written, but don't because (I fancy) they lack the vital spark of self-interest. A 'real' poem is a pleasure to write.”” [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts forced, idealized poetry with spontaneous, enjoyable creation, suggesting authentic work arises from personal interest. **In simple terms:** Real poems flow from personal interest, not forced effort. Key Takeaway Write from genuine curiosity. Themes creativity authenticity artistic process Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - writing poetry - creative workshops - personal journaling Key Concepts self‑interest spontaneity intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - What topics naturally excite you? - How can you nurture self‑interest in writing? A Different Perspective Ideal poems may feel empty without personal relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscious mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious-mind/) [Ideal Poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-poems-3125410/) [Poem Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem-conscious-1198191/) [Poem Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem-pleasure-3125411/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Real Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-poem-2243637/) [Write Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-poem/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I think many poets, including myself, write both for the voice and for the page. 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I write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-militello/i-write-because-i-die-again-and-again-at-the-hands-of-a-world-that/) [Jennifer Militello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-militello/) > [If you're angry, you don't have to write a poem dealing with the cause of your anger. 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Something to do with violence A long way back, and wrong rewards, And arrogant eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/it-never-worked-for-me-something-to-do-with-violence-a-long-way-back/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [Seriously, I think it is a grave fault in life that so much time is wasted in social matters, because it not only takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/seriously-i-think-it-is-a-grave-fault-in-life-that-so-much-time-is/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [So many things I had thought forgotten Return to my mind with stranger pain: Like letters that arrive addressed to someone Who left the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/so-many-things-i-had-thought-forgotten-return-to-my-mind-with/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [“One of the quainter quirks of life is that we shall never know who dies on the same day as we do ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/one-of-the-quainter-quirks-of-life-is-that-we-shall-never-know-who/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [“I sit in my room like Miss Havisham, about whom I have been reading this week. Better the Dickens you know than the Dickens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/i-sit-in-my-room-like-miss-havisham-about-whom-i-have-been-reading/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [“When I throw back my head and howl People (women mostly) say But you've always done what you want, You always get your way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/when-i-throw-back-my-head-and-howl-people-women-mostly-say-but-you-ve/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [I think a young poet, or an old poet, for that matter, should try to produce something that pleases himself personally, not only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/i-think-a-young-poet-or-an-old-poet-for-that-matter-should-try-to/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [But superstition, like belief, must die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/but-superstition-like-belief-must-die/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [“Side by side, their faces blurred, The earl and countess lie in stone, Their proper habits vaguely shown As jointed armour, stiffened pleat, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/side-by-side-their-faces-blurred-the-earl-and-countess-lie-in-stone/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) [Explore all 206 Philip Larkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) ## More Conscious mind quotes > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. 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We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [“Shorter believes that psychosomatic illnesses (such as leg paralysis at the turn of the twentieth century or multiple personality disorder at the turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-watters/shorter-believes-that-psychosomatic-illnesses-such-as-leg-paralysis/) [Ethan Watters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-watters/) > [“The unconscious mind is a terrific solver of complex problems when the conscious mind is busy elsewhere or, perhaps better yet, not overtaxed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/the-unconscious-mind-is-a-terrific-solver-of-complex-problems-when/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [You may not yet be able to bring your unconscious mind activity into awareness as thoughts, but it will always be reflected in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-may-not-yet-be-able-to-bring-your-unconscious-mind-activity-into/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You make the choice for change more easily and readily each time as your conscious mind begins to reprogram your subconscious mind with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-sylver/you-make-the-choice-for-change-more-easily-and-readily-each-time-as/) [Marshall Sylver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-sylver/) > [Insofar as she recognized at all that she was dreaming, she realized that she must be exploring her subconscious mind. 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