Alive Quote by Randall Jarrell
![“If poetry were nothing but texture, [Dylan] Thomas would be as good as any poet alive. The what of his poems is hardly essential to their success, and the best and most brilliantly written pieces usually say less than the worst.” quote by Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/060/randall-jarrell-3811_alive_if-poetry-were-nothing-but-texture-dylan_995207.jpg)
“If poetry were nothing but texture, [Dylan] Thomas would be as good as any poet alive. The what of his poems is hardly essential to their success, and the best and most brilliantly written pieces usually say less than the worst.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Modern Poet” (1950)
Technical skill alone doesn’t make poetry great; emotional depth matters more.
In simple terms: Skill isn’t enough without feeling.
Key Takeaway
Seek emotional resonance in art.
Themes
poetry
art criticism
creativity
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- creative writing
- art education
- book reviews
Key Concepts
texture
meaning
emotional impact
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a poem move you?
- Can technique substitute for feeling?
A Different Perspective
Technical perfection can mask emptiness.
![“I was twenty-nine years old and I wasn't a very good poet and I wasn't a very good novelist, [so] I thought I would try writing a play, which seems to have worked out a little better.” quote by Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/01d/edward-albee-1684_littles_i-was-twenty-nine-years-old-and-i-wasn-t_1642881.jpg)
![“Early in his life Mr. [Ezra] Pound met with strong, continued, and unintelligent opposition. If people keep opposing you when you are right, you think them fools; and after a time, right or wrong, you think them fools simply because they oppose you. Similarly, you write true things or good things…” quote by Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5a7/randall-jarrell-3811_ends_early-in-his-life-mr-ezra-pound-met-with_359433.jpg)
