--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's a word, a talisman, to hold…" description: "\"What's a word, a talisman, to hold against the world?\" — Rita Dove" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/rita-dove-4855_language_what-s-a-word-a-talisman-to-hold-against_1309310.jpg" --- # What's a word, a talisman, to hold against the world? ![“What's a word, a talisman, to hold against the world?” quote by Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/rita-dove-4855_language_what-s-a-word-a-talisman-to-hold-against_1309310.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/rita-dove-4855_language_what-s-a-word-a-talisman-to-hold-against_1309310.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/rita-dove-4855_language_what-s-a-word-a-talisman-to-hold-against_1309310.jpg) > “What's a word, a talisman, to hold against the world?” [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A talisman is a symbolic word that can empower one against life's challenges. **In simple terms:** Words can be protective symbols. Key Takeaway Find empowering words, use them. Themes language symbolism resilience poetry Mood inspirational hopeful Type poetic advice When to use this quote - personal mantra - creative writing - therapy - spiritual practice Key Concepts psychology literary devices Questions to Reflect On - What word gives you strength? - How can you embed meaning into daily language? A Different Perspective Words alone may not solve problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Talisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talisman/) [Talismans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talismans/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [He had divested himself of the little cloaked godlet and his other amulets in a place where they would not be found in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/he-had-divested-himself-of-the-little-cloaked-godlet-and-his-other/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [The intellect,-that is miraculous! Who has it, has the talisman: his skin and bones, though they were of the color of night, are transparent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-intellect-that-is-miraculous-who-has-it-has-the-talisman-his-skin/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The source of each accordant strain Lies deeper than the Poet's brain. First from the people's heart must spring The passions which he learns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/the-source-of-each-accordant-strain-lies-deeper-than-the-poet-s-brain/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [“A cricketer who hits a century in one match may score zero in the next, if he does not have the same outfit, shoes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/a-cricketer-who-hits-a-century-in-one-match-may-score-zero-in-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Work, ah! that talisman to guard one against one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-campbell-praed/work-ah-that-talisman-to-guard-one-against-one-s-self/) [Rosa Campbell Praed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-campbell-praed/) > [Here is a sovereign talisman against regret: never do that which might engender it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/here-is-a-sovereign-talisman-against-regret-never-do-that-which-might/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [The Cross is a gibbet - rather an odd thing to make use of as a talisman against bad luck, if that is how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-johnston/the-cross-is-a-gibbet-rather-an-odd-thing-to-make-use-of-as-a/) Denis Johnston > [“I hold the final piece. And it is indeed . . . a talisman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-hold-the-final-piece-and-it-is-indeed-a-talisman/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“When he remembered to turn and look for it, the Talisman was gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/when-he-remembered-to-turn-and-look-for-it-the-talisman-was-gone/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Christianity — and that is its greatest merit — has somewhat mitigated that brutal German love of war, but it could not destroy it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/christianity-and-that-is-its-greatest-merit-has-somewhat-mitigated/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [“He lifted a hand and turned and went on. He had divested himself of the little cloaked godlet and his other amulets in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/he-lifted-a-hand-and-turned-and-went-on-he-had-divested-himself-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“Talisman, Talisman, show me your secrets, Helmsman, Helmsman, turn me for home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-james-waller/talisman-talisman-show-me-your-secrets-helmsman-helmsman-turn-me-for/) [Robert James Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-james-waller/) > [“When you have never known a thing except to dream, it becomes more than a talisman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/when-you-have-never-known-a-thing-except-to-dream-it-becomes-more/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“This one’s mine. I’ve claimed him. And he’s wearing my talisman to keep him safe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leta-blake/this-one-s-mine-i-ve-claimed-him-and-he-s-wearing-my-talisman-to-keep/) [Leta Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leta-blake/) > [“Now that I have this piglet talisman... who knows what I might find the poor judgment to do?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginn-hale/now-that-i-have-this-piglet-talisman-who-knows-what-i-might-find-the/) [Ginn Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginn-hale/) ## More by Rita Dove > [I think children have talent and insight, but it gets beaten out of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/i-think-children-have-talent-and-insight-but-it-gets-beaten-out-of/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [Courage has nothing to do with our determination to be great. It has to do with what we decide in that moment when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/courage-has-nothing-to-do-with-our-determination-to-be-great-it-has/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [Libraries are where it all begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/libraries-are-where-it-all-begins/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [My inspiration comes from everywhere, just walking down the street and I never know where it's going to come from, so I keep a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/my-inspiration-comes-from-everywhere-just-walking-down-the-street-and/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [To write for PC reasons, because you think you ought to be dealing with this subject, is never going to yield anything that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/to-write-for-pc-reasons-because-you-think-you-ought-to-be-dealing/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [All of us have moments in our childhood where we come alive for the first time. And we go back to those moments and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/all-of-us-have-moments-in-our-childhood-where-we-come-alive-for-the/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [The First Book: Go ahead, it won't bite. Well... maybe a little. More a nip, like. A tingle. It's pleasurable, really. You see, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/the-first-book-go-ahead-it-won-t-bite-well-maybe-a-little-more-a-nip/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [Sometimes a word is found so right it trembles at the slightest explanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/sometimes-a-word-is-found-so-right-it-trembles-at-the-slightest/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [Listen how they say your name. If they can't say that right, there's no way they're going to know how to treat you proper,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/listen-how-they-say-your-name-if-they-can-t-say-that-right-there-s-no/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [People write me from all over the country, asking me, and sometimes even telling me, what they think a poet laureate should do. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/people-write-me-from-all-over-the-country-asking-me-and-sometimes/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [Creative writing and literacy go hand and hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/creative-writing-and-literacy-go-hand-and-hand/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [There are distinct duties of a poet laureate. I plan a reading series at the Library of Congress and advise the librarian. The rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/there-are-distinct-duties-of-a-poet-laureate-i-plan-a-reading-series/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [My first advice would be to read, read, read, which sounds interesting coming in a digital age, but it's so much easier to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/my-first-advice-would-be-to-read-read-read-which-sounds-interesting/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [To me, a poem is almost like someone whispering to another person, or you hear the whispering in your head. I hope with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/to-me-a-poem-is-almost-like-someone-whispering-to-another-person-or/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [I was not interested in doing the plot of OEDIPUS in blackface. I did wonder, what would these people have been like if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/i-was-not-interested-in-doing-the-plot-of-oedipus-in-blackface-i-did/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) [Explore all 106 Rita Dove quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) ## More Hold quotes > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [See you in a few. Hold down the fort, Mr. Wong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/see-you-in-a-few-hold-down-the-fort-mr-wong/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [As we go through this transition where a lot more people will be reading on devices, nobody is paying enough attention to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/as-we-go-through-this-transition-where-a-lot-more-people-will-be/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I hold that religion and faith are two different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buckley/i-hold-that-religion-and-faith-are-two-different-things/) [Pat Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buckley/) > [I don't have any regrets or hold any grudge against anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cooper-kupp/i-don-t-have-any-regrets-or-hold-any-grudge-against-anyone/) [Cooper Kupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cooper-kupp/) > [I do not chase after anyone if you wanna walk out my life then I will hold the fu\*\*\*\*g door open for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-do-not-chase-after-anyone-if-you-wanna-walk-out-my-life-then-i-will/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/) [Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/) > [“Only the sky above us do we hold in common.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/only-the-sky-above-us-do-we-hold-in-common/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Just as Wall Street needs to break the hold of the bonus culture, which drives risk-taking that is rational for individuals but damaging to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-schekman/just-as-wall-street-needs-to-break-the-hold-of-the-bonus-culture/) [Randy Schekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-schekman/) > [Hold tenderly that which you cherish, for it is precious and a tight grip may crush it. Do not let the fear of dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-alberti/hold-tenderly-that-which-you-cherish-for-it-is-precious-and-a-tight/) Bob Alberti > [Sometimes, I get afraid it has defined me, that sense of grief, loss and illness. But actually, it is about allowing myself to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-get-afraid-it-has-defined-me-that-sense-of-grief-loss-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You want to embrace, but I can't figure out how to hold on to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-duritz/you-want-to-embrace-but-i-can-t-figure-out-how-to-hold-on-to-it/) [Adam Duritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-duritz/) Browse all 2,062 Hold quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What's a word, a talisman, to hold against the world?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rita Dove" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/what-s-a-word-a-talisman-to-hold-against-the-world/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hold" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/what-s-a-word-a-talisman-to-hold-against-the-world/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/rita-dove-4855_language_what-s-a-word-a-talisman-to-hold-against_1309310.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/rita-dove-4855_language_what-s-a-word-a-talisman-to-hold-against_1309310.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/rita-dove-4855_language_what-s-a-word-a-talisman-to-hold-against_1309310.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What's a word, a talisman, to hold against the world?” — Rita Dove", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rita Dove", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What's a word, a talisman, to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/what-s-a-word-a-talisman-to-hold-against-the-world/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/what-s-a-word-a-talisman-to-hold-against-the-world/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```