--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though philosophers like to define poetry…" description: "\"Though philosophers like to define poetry as irrational fancy, for us it is practical, humorous, reasonable way of being ourselves.\" — Robert Graves" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/robert-graves-2410_fancy_though-philosophers-like-to-define-poetr_1788960.jpg" --- # Though philosophers like to define poetry as irrational… ![“Though philosophers like to define poetry as irrational fancy, for us it is practical, humorous, reasonable way of being ourselves.” quote by Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/robert-graves-2410_fancy_though-philosophers-like-to-define-poetr_1788960.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/robert-graves-2410_fancy_though-philosophers-like-to-define-poetr_1788960.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/robert-graves-2410_fancy_though-philosophers-like-to-define-poetr_1788960.jpg) > “Though philosophers like to define poetry as irrational fancy, for us it is practical, humorous, reasonable way of being ourselves.” [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 is a practical, humorous, and reasonable way for individuals to express their true selves, contrary to abstract definitions. **In simple terms:** Poetry lets us be ourselves in a practical, funny way. Key Takeaway Use poetry to explore personal truth. Themes creativity selfexpression humor practicality Mood creative playful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - personal journaling - performance art Key Concepts literary art identity formation Questions to Reflect On - What personal truth could you reveal through verse? - How does humor aid self‑discovery? A Different Perspective Poetry may feel inaccessible to some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Irrational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [I could no more define poetry than a terrier can define a rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-could-no-more-define-poetry-than-a-terrier-can-define-a-rat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I keep trying to define poetry, but its so difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gleeson/i-keep-trying-to-define-poetry-but-its-so-difficult/) [Jack Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gleeson/) > [I could define poetry this way: it is that which is lost out of both prose and verse in translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/i-could-define-poetry-this-way-it-is-that-which-is-lost-out-of-both/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [I keep trying to define 'poetry,' but it's so difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gleeson/i-keep-trying-to-define-poetry-but-it-s-so-difficult/) [Jack Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gleeson/) > [I define poetry as celebration and confrontation. When we witness something, are we responsible for what we witness? That's an on-going existential question. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusef-komunyakaa/i-define-poetry-as-celebration-and-confrontation-when-we-witness/) [Yusef Komunyakaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusef-komunyakaa/) > [It's not easy to define poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/it-s-not-easy-to-define-poetry/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [It is a shallow criticism that would define poetry as confined to literary productions in rhyme and meter rhythm. The written poem is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-a-shallow-criticism-that-would-define-poetry-as-confined-to/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Reason cannot show itself more reasonable than to cease reasoning on things above reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/reason-cannot-show-itself-more-reasonable-than-to-cease-reasoning-on/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [I am a reasonable and sane functionalist tempered by irrational frivolity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-girard/i-am-a-reasonable-and-sane-functionalist-tempered-by-irrational/) Alexander Girard > [The advance of science spares us from irrational dread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-advance-of-science-spares-us-from-irrational-dread/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“...the irrational will have its say, perhaps because 'irrational' is the wrong word for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-irrational-will-have-its-say-perhaps-because-irrational-is-the/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) ## 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. 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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 Fancy quotes > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. 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