Conviction Quote by Robert Hass
“If you were making poetry out of convictions - trying to convince other people - you were in the territory of rhetoric, and that wasn't the territory of poetry. I think that's pretty smart. I think that it doesn't need to be altogether true, but that was my starting place.”
About This Quote
Poetry should arise from genuine conviction, not from persuasive rhetoric; authenticity matters more than convincing others.
In simple terms: Poetry is about truth, not persuasion.
Key Takeaway
Write poetry rooted in personal belief, not to sway.
Themes
creativity
authenticity
poetry
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- personal essays
- public speaking
Key Concepts
conviction
rhetoric
artistic integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- When does persuasion enhance poetry?
- Can truth and persuasion coexist?
A Different Perspective
Rhetoric can be a useful tool in some poetic forms.
![“Indignation leads to the making of poetry. [Lat., Facit indignatio versum.]” quote by Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f61/juvenal-918_indignation_indignation-leads-to-the-making-of-poetr_43480.jpg)
![“Beneath everything else, North and West, there ran a profound, unvoiced, almost subconscious conviction that the [American] nation was going to go on growing-in size, in power, in everything a man could think of-and in that belief there was a might and a fury that would take form instantly at the…” quote by Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a3c/bruce-catton-15493_belief_beneath-everything-else-north-and-west-t_10801.jpg)
