--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Poetry or science, what matters is saying…" description: "\"“Poetry or science, what matters is saying it how you see it. Saying precisely what and how you saw, and no more. In science, poetry or describing a jo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/ruth-padel-47176_artistic-expression_poetry-or-science-what-matters-is-saying_2879578.jpg" --- # Poetry or science, what matters is saying it how you see… ![“Poetry or science, what matters is saying it how you see it. Saying precisely what and how you saw, and no more. In science, poetry or describing a journey, accuracy is all you can do. Saying it as you saw.” quote by Ruth Padel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/ruth-padel-47176_artistic-expression_poetry-or-science-what-matters-is-saying_2879578.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/ruth-padel-47176_artistic-expression_poetry-or-science-what-matters-is-saying_2879578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/ruth-padel-47176_artistic-expression_poetry-or-science-what-matters-is-saying_2879578.jpg) > ““Poetry or science, what matters is saying it how you see it. Saying precisely what and how you saw, and no more. In science, poetry or describing a journey, accuracy is all you can do. Saying it as you saw.”” [Ruth Padel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-padel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Both poetry and science aim to convey precise personal perception; accuracy is paramount in expression. **In simple terms:** Express precisely what you perceive. Key Takeaway Prioritize accuracy in communication. Themes expression precision art vs science Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing - research - education - creative projects Key Concepts subjective observation objective description Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance precision with emotion? - When is precise language more valuable than poetic? A Different Perspective Exactness may limit emotional nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accuracy Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accuracy-saying-3983043/) [Artistic expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic-expression/) [Matters Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-saying-2863563/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-science-973609/) [Saying Precisely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-precisely-534851/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-poetry-445561/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [Science is the poetry of the intellect and poetry the science of the heart's affections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/science-is-the-poetry-of-the-intellect-and-poetry-the-science-of-the/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) > [ “\[L\]et us not overlook the further great fact, that not only does science underlie sculpture, painting, music, poetry, but that science is itself poetic.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/l-et-us-not-overlook-the-further-great-fact-that-not-only-does/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In the earliest ages science was poetry, as in the latter poetry has become science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/in-the-earliest-ages-science-was-poetry-as-in-the-latter-poetry-has/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [In the earliest ages science was poetry, as in the later poetry has become science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/in-the-earliest-ages-science-was-poetry-as-in-the-later-poetry-has/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [“What matters is that you do good work. What matters is that you produce things that are true and will stand. What matters is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/what-matters-is-that-you-do-good-work-what-matters-is-that-you/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [If you find yourself saying 'I can't do something', but you know it in your heart of hearts that if you do it, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/if-you-find-yourself-saying-i-can-t-do-something-but-you-know-it-in/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [See, even if you're stuck in life, if you can describe just exactly the way you're stuck, then you will immediately recognise that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-whyte/see-even-if-you-re-stuck-in-life-if-you-can-describe-just-exactly-the/) [David Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-whyte/) > [Though your views are in straight antagonism to theirs, assume an identity of sentiment, assume that you are saying precisely thatwhich all think, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/though-your-views-are-in-straight-antagonism-to-theirs-assume-an/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“All the time when I speak to you, even now, I'm saying not precisely what I think, but what will impress you and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/all-the-time-when-i-speak-to-you-even-now-i-m-saying-not-precisely/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [“But often it's the inexact, the awful, the mistaken linguistic turn that manages to say the right thing because it unmoors us from our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tin-house-books/but-often-it-s-the-inexact-the-awful-the-mistaken-linguistic-turn/) [Tin House Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tin-house-books/) > [In mauve sea-orchids as in her striking earlier book Guardians of the Secret, Lila Zemborain brings into relationship the viscera of the body and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-gander/in-mauve-sea-orchids-as-in-her-striking-earlier-book-guardians-of-the/) [Forrest Gander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-gander/) > [Without poetry our science will appear incomplete, and most of what now passes with us for religion and philosophy will be replaced by poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/without-poetry-our-science-will-appear-incomplete-and-most-of-what/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [In scientific thinking are always present elements of poetry. Science and music requires a thought homogeneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/in-scientific-thinking-are-always-present-elements-of-poetry-science/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [For a scientist must indeed be freely imaginative and yet skeptical, creative and yet a critic. There is a sense in which he must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-a-scientist-must-indeed-be-freely-imaginative-and-yet-skeptical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Though science makes no use for poetry, poetry is enriched by science. Poetry “takes up” the scientific vision and re-expresses its truths, but always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-p-jacks-2/though-science-makes-no-use-for-poetry-poetry-is-enriched-by-science/) [L.P. Jacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-p-jacks-2/) ## More by Ruth Padel > [“Collect yourself: to smother what you feel, recall to order, summon in one place; making, like Orpheus, a system against loss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-padel/collect-yourself-to-smother-what-you-feel-recall-to-order-summon-in/) [Ruth Padel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-padel/) > [“Every choice is a loss. The past is not where you left it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-padel/every-choice-is-a-loss-the-past-is-not-where-you-left-it/) [Ruth Padel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-padel/) > [“Tragedy's language stresses that whatever is within us is obscure, many faceted, impossible to see. Performance gave this question of what is within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-padel/tragedy-s-language-stresses-that-whatever-is-within-us-is-obscure/) [Ruth Padel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-padel/) > [“I'll follow, if you give the sign.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-padel/i-ll-follow-if-you-give-the-sign/) [Ruth Padel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-padel/) > [“You break my sleep And something like my heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-padel/you-break-my-sleep-and-something-like-my-heart/) [Ruth Padel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-padel/) > [What we feel is mortal, and won't come again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-padel/what-we-feel-is-mortal-and-won-t-come-again/) [Ruth Padel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-padel/) > [“How difficult it is to see The things we love With all this shadow round us, This brief time we're here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-padel/how-difficult-it-is-to-see-the-things-we-love-with-all-this-shadow/) [Ruth Padel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-padel/) [Explore all 8 Ruth Padel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-padel/) ## More Artistic expression quotes > [In the documentary space, the biggest and most obvious difference is that in those films you're not in it for a financial gain. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-smolyansky/in-the-documentary-space-the-biggest-and-most-obvious-difference-is/) [Julie Smolyansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-smolyansky/) > [“The key experiential approach I now use to induce non-ordinary states of consciousness and gain access to the unconscious and superconscious psyche is Holotropic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislav-grof/the-key-experiential-approach-i-now-use-to-induce-non-ordinary-states/) [Stanislav Grof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislav-grof/) > [“A person writes similar to how a blind person uses brail. We grope along the palpable corridors of the mind’s organic texture to locate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/a-person-writes-similar-to-how-a-blind-person-uses-brail-we-grope/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [Art must be an expression of love or it is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-chagall/art-must-be-an-expression-of-love-or-it-is-nothing/) [Marc Chagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-chagall/) > [“I had artistic classical training, and when you learn the classics for so many years, you might gain audacity, power and confidence to subvert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-roque/i-had-artistic-classical-training-and-when-you-learn-the-classics-for/) [Nuno Roque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-roque/) > [Dance, one of the oldest forms of artistic expression, requires only the human body for its realization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-youskevitch/dance-one-of-the-oldest-forms-of-artistic-expression-requires-only/) [Igor Youskevitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-youskevitch/) > [“Hidden in dreams are arts that haven’t been crafted, and songs that haven’t been chanted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/hidden-in-dreams-are-arts-that-haven-t-been-crafted-and-songs-that/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Actors are loved because they are unoriginal. Actors stick to their script. The unoriginal man is loved by the mediocrity because this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-kavanagh/actors-are-loved-because-they-are-unoriginal-actors-stick-to-their/) [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) > [My view is that "A Small Oak Tree Runs Red" is about putting people 'on the record,' who otherwise would have been forgotten, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-lennix/my-view-is-that-a-small-oak-tree-runs-red-is-about-putting-people-on/) [Harry Lennix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-lennix/) > [Humor may be defined as the kindly contemplation of the incongruities of life, and the artistic expression thereof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/humor-may-be-defined-as-the-kindly-contemplation-of-the-incongruities/) [Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/) > [Artistic expression, sex, and truth are the only things that really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/artistic-expression-sex-and-truth-are-the-only-things-that-really/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [For me, what I do is an artistic expression which is channeled through me. Fashion is just the medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/for-me-what-i-do-is-an-artistic-expression-which-is-channeled-through/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [“For if freethinkers did not have a political platform, they nevertheless agreed on a wide range of social, cultural, and artistic concerns, which generated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/for-if-freethinkers-did-not-have-a-political-platform-they/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“The essence of romance is an extremely powerful life-giving sensual force for change. I view the romantic periods in our history as cycles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-ophelia/the-essence-of-romance-is-an-extremely-powerful-life-giving-sensual/) [Ayesha Ophelia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-ophelia/) > [It's not like since I make comics I only read comics and since I make movies I will only go out and watch movies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjane-satrapi/it-s-not-like-since-i-make-comics-i-only-read-comics-and-since-i-make/) [Marjane Satrapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjane-satrapi/) [Browse all 130 Artistic expression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic-expression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Poetry or science, what matters is saying it how you see it. Saying precisely what and how you saw, and no more. In science, poetry or describing a journey, accuracy is all you can do. 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