--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The poets are only the interpreters of…" description: "\"The poets are only the interpreters of the Gods.\" — Socrates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/socrates-405_poetry_the-poets-are-only-the-interpreters-of-t_1117180.jpg" --- # The poets are only the interpreters of the Gods. ![“The poets are only the interpreters of the Gods.” quote by Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/socrates-405_poetry_the-poets-are-only-the-interpreters-of-t_1117180.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/socrates-405_poetry_the-poets-are-only-the-interpreters-of-t_1117180.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/socrates-405_poetry_the-poets-are-only-the-interpreters-of-t_1117180.jpg) > “The poets are only the interpreters of the Gods.” [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poets serve as mediators, translating divine inspiration into human language. **In simple terms:** Poets interpret the gods for us. Key Takeaway Value poetic insight. Themes art spirituality interpretation Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - religious ceremonies - literary analysis - creative writing - public speaking Key Concepts divine inspiration mediators Questions to Reflect On - What is the role of the poet today? - How do we discern true divine messages? A Different Perspective Poets may impose personal bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Interpreters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interpreters-1701231/) [Interpreters Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interpreters-gods-3005339/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets/) [Poets Interpreters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets-interpreters-3005340/) ## Related quotes > [“God would seem to indicate to us and not allow us to doubt that these beautiful poems are not human, or the work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/god-would-seem-to-indicate-to-us-and-not-allow-us-to-doubt-that-these/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The poets are nothing but interpreters of the gods, each one possessed by the divinity to whom he is in bondage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-poets-are-nothing-but-interpreters-of-the-gods-each-one-possessed/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [A lot of times, if you watch sign language interpreters, there can be some lag time issues. When that happens, I think you lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-jason/a-lot-of-times-if-you-watch-sign-language-interpreters-there-can-be/) [Jack Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-jason/) > [Advertising practitioners are interpreters. But unlike foreign language interpreters, adpeople must constantly learn new languages. They must understand the language of each new product,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jef-i-richards/advertising-practitioners-are-interpreters-but-unlike-foreign/) [Jef I Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jef-i-richards/) > [I'm in the action, but I'm not in the action. A lot of the interpreting I do sometimes borders on performance. It gives me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-jason/i-m-in-the-action-but-i-m-not-in-the-action-a-lot-of-the-interpreting/) [Jack Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-jason/) > [“Music Doesn’t Need Interpreters and Translators”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/music-doesn-t-need-interpreters-and-translators/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [“Interpreters package and then sell, rent, or impose upon us artificially flavored illusions of truth, salvation, enlightenment, and happiness that are built upon their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-rose/interpreters-package-and-then-sell-rent-or-impose-upon-us/) [Doug Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-rose/) > [Interpreters do not settle for good; they strive for excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/interpreters-do-not-settle-for-good-they-strive-for-excellence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In Iraq, interpreters were ten times more likely to be killed than were U.S. troops.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nataly-kelly/in-iraq-interpreters-were-ten-times-more-likely-to-be-killed-than/) [Nataly Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nataly-kelly/) > [Not merely what we do, but what we try to do and why, are the true interpreters of what we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-h-woodward/not-merely-what-we-do-but-what-we-try-to-do-and-why-are-the-true/) [Collin H. Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-h-woodward/) > [“MATLAB and R have notoriously slow language interpreters”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/matlab-and-r-have-notoriously-slow-language-interpreters/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mental illness seems to be a communication problem between interpreters one and two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kaysen/mental-illness-seems-to-be-a-communication-problem-between/) [Susanna Kaysen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kaysen/) > [An important United Nations environmental conference went past 6:00 in the evening when the interpreters' contracted working conditions said they could leave. They left,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yergin/an-important-united-nations-environmental-conference-went-past-6-00/) [Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yergin/) > [A lot of linguists in the market, especially interpreters of foreign languages, do not have a great command over the English language, especially if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinmayi/a-lot-of-linguists-in-the-market-especially-interpreters-of-foreign/) [Chinmayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinmayi/) > [“Fifthly, As to learning their languages, the same means would be found necessary here as in trade between different nations. In some cases interpreters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/fifthly-as-to-learning-their-languages-the-same-means-would-be-found/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) ## More by Socrates > [By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-ll-be-happy-if-you-get/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/falling-down-is-not-a-failure-failure-comes-when-you-stay-where-you/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Do not go through life like leaf blown from here to there believing whatever you are told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/do-not-go-through-life-like-leaf-blown-from-here-to-there-believing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If the whole world depends on today's youth, I can't see the world lasting another 100 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-the-whole-world-depends-on-today-s-youth-i-can-t-see-the-world/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“I only know, I know nothing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-only-know-i-know-nothing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-cannot-teach-anybody-anything-i-can-only-make-them-think/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-measure-and-symmetry-are-absent-from-any-composition-in-any-degree/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Marry a good woman, and be happy the rest of your life. Or, marry a bad, and become a good philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/marry-a-good-woman-and-be-happy-the-rest-of-your-life-or-marry-a-bad/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“For the fear of death is indeed the pretense of wisdom, and not real wisdom, being a pretense of knowing the unknown; and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/for-the-fear-of-death-is-indeed-the-pretense-of-wisdom-and-not-real/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [There is no difference between knowledge and temperance; for he who knows what is good and embraces it, who knows what is bad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/there-is-no-difference-between-knowledge-and-temperance-for-he-who/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Besides, it is a shame to let yourself grow old through neglect before seeing how you can develop the maximum beauty and strength of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/besides-it-is-a-shame-to-let-yourself-grow-old-through-neglect-before/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The greatest blessing granted to mankind come by way of madness, which is a divine gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-greatest-blessing-granted-to-mankind-come-by-way-of-madness-which/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I desire only to know the truth, and to live as well as I can...And, to the utmost of my power, I exhort all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-desire-only-to-know-the-truth-and-to-live-as-well-as-i-can-and-to/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [So you would rather suffer an injustice than do an injustice?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/so-you-would-rather-suffer-an-injustice-than-do-an-injustice/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The end of life is to be like unto God; and the soul following God, will be like unto Him; He being the beginning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-end-of-life-is-to-be-like-unto-god-and-the-soul-following-god/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) [Explore all 579 Socrates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## More Gods quotes > [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [What Gods do you believe in? I'll build you a temple of mirrors so you can see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-gibson/what-gods-do-you-believe-in-i-ll-build-you-a-temple-of-mirrors-so-you/) [Andrea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-gibson/) > [Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/against-stupidity-the-gods-themselves-contend-in-vain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do you see those dull stars?" She outlined the formation with her finger. "A pentagram," whispered Scott. "Yes, but not just any pentagram. Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mattie/do-you-see-those-dull-stars-she-outlined-the-formation-with-her/) [Katie Mattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mattie/) > [How do you explain a person like Asha Bhosle? A star or a super star or just someone from the Gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anu-malik/how-do-you-explain-a-person-like-asha-bhosle-a-star-or-a-super-star/) [Anu Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anu-malik/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods… But even the great can tremble with fear. Even the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-man-as-great-as-the-gods-but-even-the/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“Aeneas' mother is a star?" "No; a goddess." I said cautiously, "Venus is the power that we invoke in spring, in the garden, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/aeneas-mother-is-a-star-no-a-goddess-i-said-cautiously-venus-is-the/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“Holy gods. He'd frozen the whole damn lake. He was THAT powerful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/holy-gods-he-d-frozen-the-whole-damn-lake-he-was-that-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-gods-know-what-it-is-to-be-eternal-and-they-love-to-toy-with/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“It was suffering and incapacity that created all afterworlds - this, and that brief madness of bliss which is experienced only by those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-was-suffering-and-incapacity-that-created-all-afterworlds-this-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The natural gods of men are other men, mythic or real, who embody manhood in men's eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/the-natural-gods-of-men-are-other-men-mythic-or-real-who-embody/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [“Every nation is part of the history we inherit, blacks and whites, slaves and gods; we have no other option, embracing each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/every-nation-is-part-of-the-history-we-inherit-blacks-and-whites/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Astrology reveals the will of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/astrology-reveals-the-will-of-the-gods/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) [Browse all 1,461 Gods quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The poets are only the interpreters of the Gods.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Socrates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-poets-are-only-the-interpreters-of-the-gods/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gods" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-poets-are-only-the-interpreters-of-the-gods/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/socrates-405_poetry_the-poets-are-only-the-interpreters-of-t_1117180.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/socrates-405_poetry_the-poets-are-only-the-interpreters-of-t_1117180.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/socrates-405_poetry_the-poets-are-only-the-interpreters-of-t_1117180.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The poets are only the interpreters of the Gods.” — Socrates", "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": "Socrates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The poets are only the interpreters...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-poets-are-only-the-interpreters-of-the-gods/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-poets-are-only-the-interpreters-of-the-gods/#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 } } ] } ```