Brushing Quote by Randall Jarrell
“The usual bad poem in somebody's Collected Works is a learned, mannered, valued habit, a habit a little more careful than, and little emptier than, brushing one's teeth.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Bad Poem" in The Collected Works of Randall Jarrell, 1974
The quote critiques pretentious poetry that values form over substance, likening it to a superficial habit like brushing teeth.
In simple terms: Empty poetic habits prioritize style over meaning.
Key Takeaway
Avoid empty rituals; seek authentic expression.
Themes
art criticism
literature
authenticity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
literary
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- editing
- creative writing classes
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
form vs. content
literary pretension
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you value form over meaning?
- How can you balance technique with sincerity?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the joy some find in formal mastery.
![“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)
![“He [A. J. Balfour] was eminently one of the Cole Porter school of famous men, who only fell to rise again. Picking himself up and brushing himself down became a minor art form, ruefully admired by his contemporaries.” quote by Arthur Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d36/arthur-balfour-15770_admired_he-a-j-balfour-was-eminently-one-of-the_43746.jpg)
