--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Poetry is no more a narcotic than a…" description: "\"“Poetry is no more a narcotic than a stimulant; it is a universal bittersweet mixture for all possible household emergencies and its action varies acco..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5b/robert-graves-2410_action_poetry-is-no-more-a-narcotic-than-a-stim_632777.png" --- # Poetry is no more a narcotic than a stimulant; it is a… ![“Poetry is no more a narcotic than a stimulant; it is a universal bittersweet mixture for all possible household emergencies and its action varies accordingly as it is taken in a wineglass or a tablespoon, inhaled, gargled or rubbed on the chest by hard fingers covered with rings.” quote by Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5b/robert-graves-2410_action_poetry-is-no-more-a-narcotic-than-a-stim_632777.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5b/robert-graves-2410_action_poetry-is-no-more-a-narcotic-than-a-stim_632777.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5b/robert-graves-2410_action_poetry-is-no-more-a-narcotic-than-a-stim_632777.png) > ““Poetry is no more a narcotic than a stimulant; it is a universal bittersweet mixture for all possible household emergencies and its action varies accordingly as it is taken in a wineglass or a tablespoon, inhaled, gargled or rubbed on the chest by hard fingers covered with rings.”” [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetry can be a powerful, adaptable remedy, offering comfort or stimulation depending on how we engage with it. **In simple terms:** Poetry is a flexible emotional remedy. Key Takeaway Use poetry mindingly for emotional balance. Themes creativity healing expression Mood reflective introspective Type artistic therapeutic When to use this quote - personal crisis - creative block - stress relief - artistic inspiration - mental health Key Concepts Literature emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - How do you choose the right poetic “dose” for your mood? - When does poetry become a crutch? A Different Perspective Poetry may not replace professional help for serious issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Bittersweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bittersweet/) [Chests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chests/) [Covered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covered/) [Emergencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emergencies/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Fingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fingers/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Household](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/household/) [Inhaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inhaled-1153773/) [Mixtures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mixtures/) [Narcotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcotic/) [Narcotic Stimulant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcotic-stimulant-4250277/) [Narcotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcotics/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-is/) [Poetry Narcotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-narcotic-5095952/) [Rings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rings/) [Stimulants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stimulants/) [Tablespoon Inhaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tablespoon-inhaled-5095953/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Universal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal/) [Vary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vary/) ## Related quotes > [Hollywood is a narcotic, not a stimulant. It wants to sell you something. Literature wants to tell you something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-murphy/hollywood-is-a-narcotic-not-a-stimulant-it-wants-to-sell-you/) [Rex Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-murphy/) > [I have inhaled, exhaled everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-have-inhaled-exhaled-everything/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [“Once, as he inhaled with his customary vehemence, I had a thought that made my armpits come alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/once-as-he-inhaled-with-his-customary-vehemence-i-had-a-thought-that/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“My mother inhaled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/my-mother-inhaled/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“After about ten seconds, he inhaled and shook”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/after-about-ten-seconds-he-inhaled-and-shook/) [Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/) > [“I just inhaled kimchi ramen. Nose on fire. Next chapter may be obscured by tears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mcm/i-just-inhaled-kimchi-ramen-nose-on-fire-next-chapter-may-be-obscured/) [MCM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mcm/) > [“guy.” Jessie slowly inhaled and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/guy-jessie-slowly-inhaled-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Every puff was like sucking in the abyss, yet he inhaled until his lungs filled with toxic smoke that clouded his thoughts of her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-mostafa/every-puff-was-like-sucking-in-the-abyss-yet-he-inhaled-until-his/) [Ahmed Mostafa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-mostafa/) > [“Her foot squished into the soft ground as she walked. She stooped down and pressed her fingers into the damp earth. Raising them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-d-burns/her-foot-squished-into-the-soft-ground-as-she-walked-she-stooped-down/) [Vernon D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-d-burns/) > [ I do believe that \[Bill\] Clinton never inhaled ...because when I met him, he had no idea who I was. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-do-believe-that-bill-clinton-never-inhaled-because-when-i-met-him/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [“There was something unnatural, a little unhealthy, about the way she inhaled Veda's smell as she dedicated the rest of her life to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/there-was-something-unnatural-a-little-unhealthy-about-the-way-she/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [“Oh, don't mind Humpty. He's inhaled a hell of a lot of super-glue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-willingham/oh-don-t-mind-humpty-he-s-inhaled-a-hell-of-a-lot-of-super-glue/) [Bill Willingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-willingham/) > [“Eleanor wrapped her arms around aniel's neck as he lowered her feet to the cold floor. She leaned into him and inhaled his scent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/eleanor-wrapped-her-arms-around-aniel-s-neck-as-he-lowered-her-feet/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) > [What... are you?" she choked out. "No sunlight. Funky choppers." he inhaled raggedly. "Take a guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/what-are-you-she-choked-out-no-sunlight-funky-choppers-he-inhaled/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Lena was going down the list of John's attributes in her mind, a list I was hoping wasn't too long. "He could see and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/lena-was-going-down-the-list-of-john-s-attributes-in-her-mind-a-list/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) ## More by Robert Graves > [The poet's first rule must be never to bore his readers; and his best way of keeping this rule is never to bore himself-which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/the-poet-s-first-rule-must-be-never-to-bore-his-readers-and-his-best/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [She told me that all the girls in Annezin prayed every night for the war to end and for the English to go away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/she-told-me-that-all-the-girls-in-annezin-prayed-every-night-for-the/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“As quick as boiled asparagus!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/as-quick-as-boiled-asparagus/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“Children born of fairy stock Never need for shirt or frock Never want for food or fire Always get their heart's desire Jingle pockets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/children-born-of-fairy-stock-never-need-for-shirt-or-frock-never-want/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [To know only one thing well is to have a barbaric mind: civilization implies the graceful relation of all varieties of experience to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/to-know-only-one-thing-well-is-to-have-a-barbaric-mind-civilization/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [Before an attack, the platoon pools all its available cash and the survivors divide it up afterwards. Those who are killed can't complain, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/before-an-attack-the-platoon-pools-all-its-available-cash-and-the/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“To resist the social pressure now put even on one's leisure time, requires a tougher upbringing and a more obstinate willfulness about going one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/to-resist-the-social-pressure-now-put-even-on-one-s-leisure-time/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“The child alone a poet is: Spring and Fairyland are his.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/the-child-alone-a-poet-is-spring-and-fairyland-are-his/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [The art of poetry consists in taking the poem through draft after draft, without losing its inspirational magic: he removes everything irrelevant or distracting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/the-art-of-poetry-consists-in-taking-the-poem-through-draft-after/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [Entrance and exit wounds aresilvered clean, The track aches only when the rain reminds. The one-legged man forgets his leg of wood. The one-armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/entrance-and-exit-wounds-aresilvered-clean-the-track-aches-only-when/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [What we now call "finance" is, I hold, an intellectual perversion of what began as warm human love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/what-we-now-call-finance-is-i-hold-an-intellectual-perversion-of-what/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“Manticor in Arabia (The manticors of the montaines Mighte feed them on thy braines.--Skelton.) Thick and scented daisies spread Where with surface dull like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/manticor-in-arabia-the-manticors-of-the-montaines-mighte-feed-them-on/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [As you are woman, so be lovely: As you are lovely, so be various, Merciful as constant, constant as various, So be mine, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/as-you-are-woman-so-be-lovely-as-you-are-lovely-so-be-various/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [Philosophy is antipoetic. Philosophize about mankind and you brush aside individual uniqueness, which a poet cannot do without self-damage. Unless, for a start, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/philosophy-is-antipoetic-philosophize-about-mankind-and-you-brush/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [Abstract reason, formerly the servant of practical human reasons, has everywhere become its master, and denies poetry any excuse for existence. Though philosophers like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/abstract-reason-formerly-the-servant-of-practical-human-reasons-has/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) [Explore all 166 Robert Graves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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