--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I'd begin by reading a poem by…" description: "\"I thought I'd begin by reading a poem by Shakespeare, but then I thought, why should I? He never reads any of mine.\" — Spike Milligan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/spike-milligan-3695_poetry_i-thought-i-d-begin-by-reading-a-poem-by_1025085.jpg" --- # I thought I'd begin by reading a poem by Shakespeare, but… ![“I thought I'd begin by reading a poem by Shakespeare, but then I thought, why should I? He never reads any of mine.” quote by Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/spike-milligan-3695_poetry_i-thought-i-d-begin-by-reading-a-poem-by_1025085.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/spike-milligan-3695_poetry_i-thought-i-d-begin-by-reading-a-poem-by_1025085.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/spike-milligan-3695_poetry_i-thought-i-d-begin-by-reading-a-poem-by_1025085.jpg) > “I thought I'd begin by reading a poem by Shakespeare, but then I thought, why should I? He never reads any of mine.” [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker jokes about Shakespeare’s lack of interest in his own work, highlighting the absurdity of seeking validation from a dead author. **In simple terms:** A humorous lament about unread poetry. Key Takeaway Don’t let imagined judgments stop you from creating. Themes humor creativity validation self‑doubt Mood playful reflective Type anecdotal humorous When to use this quote - writing - publishing - artistic confidence - overcoming insecurity Key Concepts literary irony self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - Do you write for yourself or for others? - How does imagined criticism affect your work? A Different Perspective The joke assumes Shakespeare’s indifference, which may not reflect real critique. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) ## Related quotes > [I thought I'd begin by reading a sonnet by Shakespeare, but then I thought, why should I? He never reads any of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/i-thought-i-d-begin-by-reading-a-sonnet-by-shakespeare-but-then-i/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [Who knows if Shakespeare might not have thought less if he had read more?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/who-knows-if-shakespeare-might-not-have-thought-less-if-he-had-read/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [There were moments of despondency when Shakespeare thought himself no poet, and Raphael no painter; when the greatest wits have doubted the excellence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/there-were-moments-of-despondency-when-shakespeare-thought-himself-no/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [If Shakespeare thought comedy worthwhile, that means the rest of us can take a break from tragedy now and then without betraying our calling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/if-shakespeare-thought-comedy-worthwhile-that-means-the-rest-of-us/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [“Shakespeare,” he thought as he scribbled away. “Foolish fancy. This is life as it is lived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/shakespeare-he-thought-as-he-scribbled-away-foolish-fancy-this-is/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“For it was through books that she felt her life to be unjudged Look at all of the great mix-ups, messes, confinement, and double-dealings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/for-it-was-through-books-that-she-felt-her-life-to-be-unjudged-look/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [“It may take a decade or two before the extent of Shakespeare's collaboration passes from the graduate seminar to the undergraduate lecture, and finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-shapiro/it-may-take-a-decade-or-two-before-the-extent-of-shakespeare-s/) [James Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-shapiro/) > [I am intrigued and even moved by the idea of being right with the reader in the actuality that she or he is reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-zapruder/i-am-intrigued-and-even-moved-by-the-idea-of-being-right-with-the/) [Matthew Zapruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-zapruder/) > [Reading a poem is a real thing, a worthy thing. So to be there right with the reader at that moment is part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-zapruder/reading-a-poem-is-a-real-thing-a-worthy-thing-so-to-be-there-right/) [Matthew Zapruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-zapruder/) > [The reading of a poem should be an experience. 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I can't lift her, I've tried and tried; She must have something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/my-sister-laura-s-bigger-than-me-and-lifts-me-up-quite-easily-i-can-t/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [Money couldn't buy friends, but you got a better class of enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/money-couldn-t-buy-friends-but-you-got-a-better-class-of-enemy/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [If you kill me, I promise you - you will never take me alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/if-you-kill-me-i-promise-you-you-will-never-take-me-alive/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [Her mother was a cultivated woman - she was born in a greenhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/her-mother-was-a-cultivated-woman-she-was-born-in-a-greenhouse/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [Said Hamlet to Ophelia, I'll draw a sketch of thee. What kind of pencil shall I use? 2B or not 2B?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/said-hamlet-to-ophelia-i-ll-draw-a-sketch-of-thee-what-kind-of-pencil/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [I'm a hero wid coward's legs, I'm a hero from the waist up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/i-m-a-hero-wid-coward-s-legs-i-m-a-hero-from-the-waist-up/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [To Harry Secombe: I hope you die first as I don't want you singing at my funeral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/to-harry-secombe-i-hope-you-die-first-as-i-don-t-want-you-singing-at/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [May 8th 1943. Deluge. The rain not only fell mainly on the plain in Spain; it also fell mainly on the back of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/may-8th-1943-deluge-the-rain-not-only-fell-mainly-on-the-plain-in/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [The experience of being in the Army changed my whole life; I never believed that an organization such as ours could ever go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/the-experience-of-being-in-the-army-changed-my-whole-life-i-never/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [“The die was cast. It was a proud day for the Milligan family as I was taken from the house. "I'm too young to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/the-die-was-cast-it-was-a-proud-day-for-the-milligan-family-as-i-was/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [How long was I in the army? Five foot eleven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/how-long-was-i-in-the-army-five-foot-eleven/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [Never return to a doctor whose office plants have died. After five days in hospital, I took a turn for the nurse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/never-return-to-a-doctor-whose-office-plants-have-died-after-five/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [Render any politician down and there's enough fat to fry an egg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/render-any-politician-down-and-there-s-enough-fat-to-fry-an-egg/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [It's all in the mind, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/it-s-all-in-the-mind-you-know/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [If a robin redbreast in a cage Puts all heaven in a rage, How feels heaven when Dies the billionth battery hen?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/if-a-robin-redbreast-in-a-cage-puts-all-heaven-in-a-rage-how-feels/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) [Explore all 124 Spike Milligan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) ## More Poem quotes > [You don’t read or overhear the voice in the poem, you are the voice in the poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-vendler/you-don-t-read-or-overhear-the-voice-in-the-poem-you-are-the-voice-in/) [Helen Vendler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-vendler/) > [“Whatever you want," he said. "Will you please come here now?" I slipped a piece of protective tissue over my drawing and flipped the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/whatever-you-want-he-said-will-you-please-come-here-now-i-slipped-a/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“The name does not deserve the poem, but the poem deserves the name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/the-name-does-not-deserve-the-poem-but-the-poem-deserves-the-name/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Memory revises me. Even now a letter comes from a place I don’t know, from someone with my name and postmarked years ago, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/memory-revises-me-even-now-a-letter-comes-from-a-place-i-don-t-know/) [Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/) > [“Sentinels of trees breathe life into bodies of earthly flesh As their mighty arms reach to the stars we join in their quest for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/sentinels-of-trees-breathe-life-into-bodies-of-earthly-flesh-as-their/) [Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/) > [“I cannot go to school today" Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-cannot-go-to-school-today-said-little-peggy-ann-mckay-i-have-the/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Good God, 'the elusive thing'. She had reached a turning point. She no longer believed that a situation could be made better by writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/good-god-the-elusive-thing-she-had-reached-a-turning-point-she-no/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [A day which passed without a poem from my pen I considered lost and misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/a-day-which-passed-without-a-poem-from-my-pen-i-considered-lost-and/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [“Memories of past. Heartaches of old. Courage of brass. Lessons of gold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/memories-of-past-heartaches-of-old-courage-of-brass-lessons-of-gold/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“To write a poem...to paint an image on canvass from the contemplation of nature and life...is to be present again in this world more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deeper-sense-of-presence-isabella-koldras/to-write-a-poem-to-paint-an-image-on-canvass-from-the-contemplation/) Deeper sense of presence Isabella koldras > [“Easter blessings All life’s sacrifices like autumn leaves awaken our senses and power to love and be whole Our Mother Earth, Our Father Sky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/easter-blessings-all-life-s-sacrifices-like-autumn-leaves-awaken-our/) [Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/) > [Poetry is a lousy form of activism; it doesn't really change much. 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