---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's a fairly Wordsworthian way to look…"
description: "\"That's a fairly Wordsworthian way to look at things! But yeah, actually - part of the poet's work, I think, is to maintain or reintroduce the imaginati..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/shane-mccrae-22873_achievement_that-s-a-fairly-wordsworthian-way-to-loo_2724053.jpg"
---

#  That's a fairly Wordsworthian way to look at things! But…

![“That's a fairly Wordsworthian way to look at things! But yeah, actually - part of the poet's work, I think, is to maintain or reintroduce the imaginative capacity of their earlier self while nonetheless maturing. And I do think the more successful the poet is at this particular thing, the greater…” quote by Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/shane-mccrae-22873_achievement_that-s-a-fairly-wordsworthian-way-to-loo_2724053.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/shane-mccrae-22873_achievement_that-s-a-fairly-wordsworthian-way-to-loo_2724053.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/shane-mccrae-22873_achievement_that-s-a-fairly-wordsworthian-way-to-loo_2724053.jpg)

> “That's a fairly Wordsworthian way to look at things! But yeah, actually - part of the poet's work, I think, is to maintain or reintroduce the imaginative capacity of their earlier self while nonetheless maturing. And I do think the more successful the poet is at this particular thing, the greater their achievement as a poet.”

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The poet should revive earlier imagination while maturing, and success in this shows artistic achievement.

**In simple terms:** Poets grow by reconnecting with past imagination.

Key Takeaway

Balance youthful imagination with mature craft.

Themes

creativity growth artistic achievement

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- writing workshops
- literary criticism
- personal development
- teaching poetry

Key Concepts

imagination maturation self‑reflection

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you nurture early imagination without stagnation?
- What risks arise when maturing too quickly?

A Different Perspective

Balancing past and present selves can be emotionally taxing.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Fairly Wordsworthian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairly-wordsworthian-2905153/) [Imaginative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imaginative/) [Mature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mature/) [Maturing Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturing-think-2905155/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-poet-2905156/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wordsworthian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wordsworthian-2905154/) [Wordsworthian Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wordsworthian-way-2905152/)

## Related quotes

> [Before unsuccessful lover became a lover successful poet, became a successful painter, Today lovers are separated on their bastard Hydro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/before-unsuccessful-lover-became-a-lover-successful-poet-became-a/)

[Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/)

> [We have invented the literature because the reality wasn't imaginative enough and we also wanted to be alone, at least for a while!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-have-invented-the-literature-because-the-reality-wasn-t/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [After all, reading is arguably a far more creative and imaginative process than writing; when the reader creates emotion in their head, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/after-all-reading-is-arguably-a-far-more-creative-and-imaginative/)

[Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/)

> [On the spectrum of imagination, there are people who are more imaginative than others - I guess some kids are hardcore pretenders and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dallas-howard/on-the-spectrum-of-imagination-there-are-people-who-are-more/)

[Bryce Dallas Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dallas-howard/)

> [Halloween's coming. Kids get very imaginative in my neighborhood. Last year, three kids showed up as Goldman Sachs executives and demanded 4.5 billion pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/halloween-s-coming-kids-get-very-imaginative-in-my-neighborhood-last/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [When we speak about trespassing, we speak about artistic trespassing. You have to be prudent and have common sense and a sense of responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/when-we-speak-about-trespassing-we-speak-about-artistic-trespassing/)

[Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/)

> [On the surface the avant garde as a whole seems united primarily in terms of what they are against: the rejection of social institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-innes/on-the-surface-the-avant-garde-as-a-whole-seems-united-primarily-in/)

[C. D. Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-innes/)

> [The religions of the world are the ejaculations of a few imaginative men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-religions-of-the-world-are-the-ejaculations-of-a-few-imaginative/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [I'm not good at standing on platforms and persuading people to my political point of view. Nor would I seek to. My gift is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/i-m-not-good-at-standing-on-platforms-and-persuading-people-to-my/)

[David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/)

> [I found so-called great art too pompous, too stiff. What at this time was called minor art was freer, more imaginative, more open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lipchitz/i-found-so-called-great-art-too-pompous-too-stiff-what-at-this-time/)

[Jacques Lipchitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lipchitz/)

> [Acting is an imaginative leap, really, isn't it? And imaginations prosper in different circumstances. And it's being able - I can't tell you how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/acting-is-an-imaginative-leap-really-isn-t-it-and-imaginations/)

[John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/)

> [It is not necessary to have an extravagant food budget in order to serve things with variety and tastefully cooked. It is not necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-schaeffer/it-is-not-necessary-to-have-an-extravagant-food-budget-in-order-to/)

[Edith Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-schaeffer/)

> [When any civilization is dust and ashes," he said, "art is all that's left over. Images, words, music. Imaginative structures. Meaning—human meaning, that is—is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-any-civilization-is-dust-and-ashes-he-said-art-is-all-that-s/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [I definitely go through periods where I'm in a particular mood, or there's a consistent imaginative context that I feel I'm in, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/i-definitely-go-through-periods-where-i-m-in-a-particular-mood-or/)

[Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/)

> [Individually, museums are fine institutions, dedicated to the high values of preservation, education and truth; collectively, their growth in numbers points to the imaginative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hewison/individually-museums-are-fine-institutions-dedicated-to-the-high/)

[Robert Hewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hewison/)

## More by Shane McCrae

> [I like having a phrase lying around to get poems started. It's like having a key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-like-having-a-phrase-lying-around-to-get-poems-started-it-s-like/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I think that the moment we're living in offers the best opportunity we've had in a long time in that a lot of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-think-that-the-moment-we-re-living-in-offers-the-best-opportunity/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I believe rhythmic sensibility is always a product and extension of language, defined broadly, among other things. But it is an immediate product and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-believe-rhythmic-sensibility-is-always-a-product-and-extension-of/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I love to read long books. I enjoy experiencing that extension. But it's not something I feel comfortable with and not something I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-love-to-read-long-books-i-enjoy-experiencing-that-extension-but-it/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I actually can't listen to music and write poetry at the same time, but I do kind of think about the music I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-actually-can-t-listen-to-music-and-write-poetry-at-the-same-time/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [There's no such thing as an animal too big too kill, AND we're cornered by such animals every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/there-s-no-such-thing-as-an-animal-too-big-too-kill-and-we-re/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I don't know that I find either aspect of Jesus more interesting than the other, although maybe I think about the God one more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-don-t-know-that-i-find-either-aspect-of-jesus-more-interesting-than/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I definitely notice the absence of character in most poetry, which is not so say that I'm an innovator in that regard. Character-based poems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-definitely-notice-the-absence-of-character-in-most-poetry-which-is/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I think I cause a lot of headaches for editors - it's impossible to keep up with the ridiculous amount of changes I make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-think-i-cause-a-lot-of-headaches-for-editors-it-s-impossible-to/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I just can't write and listen to music at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-just-can-t-write-and-listen-to-music-at-the-same-time/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I do believe in Jesus as wholly God and wholly human, and I believe the human part was human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-do-believe-in-jesus-as-wholly-god-and-wholly-human-and-i-believe/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I was just thinking about how my grandparents, who raised me, would be considered "white trash," whatever that means - mostly for being racists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-was-just-thinking-about-how-my-grandparents-who-raised-me-would-be/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I'm always glad that other people are way smarter about my poems than I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-m-always-glad-that-other-people-are-way-smarter-about-my-poems-than/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I think that the casual reader and the lyric and confession are trickily tied up together. I mean often when I read my students'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-think-that-the-casual-reader-and-the-lyric-and-confession-are/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

> [I do try to incorporate particular rhythmic and generally sonic motifs I discover in music as such, and if one thinks of language in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-do-try-to-incorporate-particular-rhythmic-and-generally-sonic/)

[Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

[Explore all 26 Shane McCrae quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/)

## More Achievement quotes

> [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/)

[Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/)

> [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/)

[Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/)

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/)

[Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/)

> [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/)

[Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/)

> [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/)

[Chaz Brenchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-brenchley/)

> [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/)

[David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/)

> [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/)

[Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/)

> [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/)

[Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/)

> [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/)

[Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/)

> [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/)

[Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/)

> [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/)

[Nicholas Roerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-roerich/)

> [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

[Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "That's a fairly Wordsworthian way to look at things! But yeah, actually - part of the poet's work, I think, is to maintain or reintroduce the imaginative capacity of their earlier self while nonetheless maturing. And I do think the more successful the poet is at this particular thing, the greater their achievement as a poet.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shane McCrae"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/that-s-a-fairly-wordsworthian-way-to-look-at-things-but-yeah-actually/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Achievement"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/that-s-a-fairly-wordsworthian-way-to-look-at-things-but-yeah-actually/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/shane-mccrae-22873_achievement_that-s-a-fairly-wordsworthian-way-to-loo_2724053.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/shane-mccrae-22873_achievement_that-s-a-fairly-wordsworthian-way-to-loo_2724053.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/shane-mccrae-22873_achievement_that-s-a-fairly-wordsworthian-way-to-loo_2724053.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“That's a fairly Wordsworthian way to look at things! But yeah, actually - part of the poet's work, I think…” — Shane McCrae",
                "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": "Shane McCrae",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "That's a fairly Wordsworthian way to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/that-s-a-fairly-wordsworthian-way-to-look-at-things-but-yeah-actually/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/that-s-a-fairly-wordsworthian-way-to-look-at-things-but-yeah-actually/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
