--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A poet is no rattlebrain, saying what…" description: "\"A poet is no rattlebrain, saying what comes uppermost, and, because he says every thing, saying, at last, something good; but a heart in unison with hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aim_a-poet-is-no-rattlebrain-saying-what-com_1641975.jpg" --- # A poet is no rattlebrain, saying what comes uppermost… ![“A poet is no rattlebrain, saying what comes uppermost, and, because he says every thing, saying, at last, something good; but a heart in unison with his time and country. There is nothing whimsical or fantastic in his production, but sweet and sad earnest, freighted with the weightiest…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aim_a-poet-is-no-rattlebrain-saying-what-com_1641975.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aim_a-poet-is-no-rattlebrain-saying-what-com_1641975.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_aim_a-poet-is-no-rattlebrain-saying-what-com_1641975.jpg) > “A poet is no rattlebrain, saying what comes uppermost, and, because he says every thing, saying, at last, something good; but a heart in unison with his time and country. There is nothing whimsical or fantastic in his production, but sweet and sad earnest, freighted with the weightiest convictions, and pointed with the most determined aim which any man or class knows of in his times.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True poetry reflects the poet’s era and nation, grounded in sincere conviction. **In simple terms:** Poetry should mirror its time with earnest purpose. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity and relevance in creative work. Themes poetry authenticity culture Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - writing workshops - public readings - educational curricula Key Concepts national identity artistic purpose social conscience Questions to Reflect On - How does a poet balance personal expression with societal reflection? - Can poetry be both timeless and timely? A Different Perspective May limit imaginative freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Convictions Pointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convictions-pointed-576033/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Earnest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earnest/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fantastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantastic/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poet Rattlebrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet-rattlebrain-576032/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Productions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productions/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [Saying Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-good-324852/) [Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweet/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Unison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unison/) [Whimsical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whimsical/) ## Related quotes > [The next thing to saying a good thing yourself, is to quote one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-next-thing-to-saying-a-good-thing-yourself-is-to-quote-one/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The next best thing to saying a good thing yourself is to quote one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-next-best-thing-to-saying-a-good-thing-yourself-is-to-quote-one/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A great factory with the machinery all working and revolving with absolute and rhythmic regularity and with the men all driven by one impulse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nelson-page/a-great-factory-with-the-machinery-all-working-and-revolving-with/) [Thomas Nelson Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nelson-page/) > [Self Esteem::"It is very easy in the world to live by the opinion of the world. It is very easy in solitude to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/self-esteem-it-is-very-easy-in-the-world-to-live-by-the-opinion-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In nature, all is useful, all is beautiful. It is therefore beautiful, because it is alive, moving, reproductive; it is thereforeuseful, because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-nature-all-is-useful-all-is-beautiful-it-is-therefore-beautiful/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The moment our discourse rises above the ground-line of familiar facts, and is inflamed with passion or exalted thought, it clothes itself in images.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-moment-our-discourse-rises-above-the-ground-line-of-familiar/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [And truly it demands something god like in him who has cast off the common motives of humanity, and has ventured to trust himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/and-truly-it-demands-something-god-like-in-him-who-has-cast-off-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [We teach boys to be such men as we are. We do not teach them to aspire to be all they can. We do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-teach-boys-to-be-such-men-as-we-are-we-do-not-teach-them-to-aspire/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [There is ever a slight suspicion of the burlesque about earnest good men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-ever-a-slight-suspicion-of-the-burlesque-about-earnest-good/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It could achieve a lot if everyone in Burma could stop saying something is good if it is not good, or say something is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/it-could-achieve-a-lot-if-everyone-in-burma-could-stop-saying/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [“I wasn't good at saying. I was good at writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/i-wasn-t-good-at-saying-i-was-good-at-writing/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [I'm not beating people over the head, and I'm saying that there are good things in store - you can make it in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-m-not-beating-people-over-the-head-and-i-m-saying-that-there-are/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Saying Good Bye is bad but don't forget. it is a new beginning of something and new beginnings are always blissful”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anamika-mishra/saying-good-bye-is-bad-but-don-t-forget-it-is-a-new-beginning-of/) [Anamika Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anamika-mishra/) > [“Saying good-bye is basically an invitation not to see a person again. It's making it okay for that to be the last conversation you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-matson/saying-good-bye-is-basically-an-invitation-not-to-see-a-person-again/) [Morgan Matson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-matson/) > [How lucky I am to have something that makes saying good-bye so hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-lucky-i-am-to-have-something-that-makes-saying-good-bye-so-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A poet is no rattlebrain, saying what comes uppermost, and, because he says every thing, saying, at last, something good; but a heart in unison with his time and country. 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