--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest poets are those with…" description: "\"The greatest poets are those with memories so great that they extend beyond their strongest experiences to their minutest observations of people and th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/stephen-spender-10665_centeredness_the-greatest-poets-are-those-with-memori_1452491.jpg" --- # The greatest poets are those with memories so great that… ![“The greatest poets are those with memories so great that they extend beyond their strongest experiences to their minutest observations of people and things far outside their own self-centeredness.” quote by Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/stephen-spender-10665_centeredness_the-greatest-poets-are-those-with-memori_1452491.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/stephen-spender-10665_centeredness_the-greatest-poets-are-those-with-memori_1452491.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/stephen-spender-10665_centeredness_the-greatest-poets-are-those-with-memori_1452491.jpg) > “The greatest poets are those with memories so great that they extend beyond their strongest experiences to their minutest observations of people and things far outside their own self-centeredness.” [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poets who remember deeply can capture both grand experiences and tiny details beyond self‑interest. **In simple terms:** Great memory lets poets see beyond themselves. Key Takeaway Cultivate wide‑ranging observation. Themes creativity memory empathy humility Mood reflective inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - journaling - travel - conversation - art criticism Key Concepts subjectivity detail self‑transcendence Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal experience with broader observation? - What details do you overlook in daily life? A Different Perspective Memory can be selective, limiting perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Centeredness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centeredness/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Greatest Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-poets-459197/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets/) [Poets Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets-memories-5227244/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem solving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-solving/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self centeredness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-centeredness/) [Strongest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strongest/) [Strongest Experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strongest-experiences-5227245/) ## Related quotes > [“Shakespeare, the greatest of poets, was the greatest reader of Nature and life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/shakespeare-the-greatest-of-poets-was-the-greatest-reader-of-nature/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [So much of the world's suffering results from the sinful action or inaction of ourselves and others. For example, people look at a famine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/so-much-of-the-world-s-suffering-results-from-the-sinful-action-or/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [I think that may be the biggest difference between Americans and people elsewhere. Unlike Americans, Canadians know that there are places just as real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/i-think-that-may-be-the-biggest-difference-between-americans-and/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [We are unlikely to cease making gods or inventing ceremonies to please them for as long as we are afraid of death, or of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/we-are-unlikely-to-cease-making-gods-or-inventing-ceremonies-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I have no self-centeredness or ego about being a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahrukh-khan/i-have-no-self-centeredness-or-ego-about-being-a-movie-star/) [Shahrukh Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahrukh-khan/) > [The whole story of the Father's Christ-exalting plan of redeeming love, from eternity to eternity, must be told, or the radical reorientation of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/the-whole-story-of-the-father-s-christ-exalting-plan-of-redeeming/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Insecure leaders think everything is about them, and as a result, every action, every piece of information, every decision is put through their filter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/insecure-leaders-think-everything-is-about-them-and-as-a-result-every/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Human cultures are all experiments in trying to find a form that will fit the matter of our immediacy; but it is absolutely not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/human-cultures-are-all-experiments-in-trying-to-find-a-form-that-will/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [Immensity is always there, but we so often become numb to it, or deceive ourselves into thinking our own lives and selves are what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hirshfield/immensity-is-always-there-but-we-so-often-become-numb-to-it-or/) [Jane Hirshfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hirshfield/) > [To be politically activated is to dare to care about the happiness of others and that is just about the most important activity anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/to-be-politically-activated-is-to-dare-to-care-about-the-happiness-of/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [Self-centeredness will bring on the destruction of our world. National pride separates people. All people need the same thing. When you really get down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/self-centeredness-will-bring-on-the-destruction-of-our-world-national/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [I think we've become a TV culture, where we forget the live performer in front of us can see us. I think there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-benanti/i-think-we-ve-become-a-tv-culture-where-we-forget-the-live-performer/) [Laura Benanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-benanti/) > [Raising or caring for children requires sacrifice and service, which, I believe, heals us from the destructive forces of self-centeredness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/raising-or-caring-for-children-requires-sacrifice-and-service-which-i/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [We must get away from this limited \*I did this and I did that\* and the self-centeredness, that dominates our society Today. It must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/we-must-get-away-from-this-limited-i-did-this-and-i-did-that-and-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [It matters, it matters very much, what each of us chooses to do. The journey toward self-discovery and self-knowledge is not only life's highest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/it-matters-it-matters-very-much-what-each-of-us-chooses-to-do-the/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) ## More by Stephen Spender > [I think continually of those who were truly great . Who, from the womb, remembered the soul 's history Through corridors of light where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/i-think-continually-of-those-who-were-truly-great-who-from-the-womb/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [History is the ship carrying living memories to the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/history-is-the-ship-carrying-living-memories-to-the-future/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [All that you can imagine you already know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/all-that-you-can-imagine-you-already-know/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [Since we are what we are, what shall we be But what we are? We are, we have Six feet and seventy years, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/since-we-are-what-we-are-what-shall-we-be-but-what-we-are-we-are-we/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [One of my great surprises when I was in America was about twenty-five years ago in Harvard, hearing Randall Jarrell deliver a bitter attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/one-of-my-great-surprises-when-i-was-in-america-was-about-twenty-five/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [What is precious is never to forget, The delight of the blood drawn from ancient springs, Breaking through rocks in worlds before our earth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/what-is-precious-is-never-to-forget-the-delight-of-the-blood-drawn/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [I think continually of those who were truly great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/i-think-continually-of-those-who-were-truly-great/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [If you get to a certain age, all people want to know about you is people you knew. ...An American student once said to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/if-you-get-to-a-certain-age-all-people-want-to-know-about-you-is/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [There is a certain justice in criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/there-is-a-certain-justice-in-criticism/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [Involved in my own entrails and a crust Turning a pitted surface towards a space, I am a world that watches through a sky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/involved-in-my-own-entrails-and-a-crust-turning-a-pitted-surface/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [Although Poets are vain and ambitious, their vanity and ambition are of the purest kind attainable in this world. They are ambitious to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/although-poets-are-vain-and-ambitious-their-vanity-and-ambition-are/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [Great poetry is always written by somebody straining to go beyond what he can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/great-poetry-is-always-written-by-somebody-straining-to-go-beyond/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [My brothers and sister and I were brought up in an atmosphere which I would describe as 'Puritan decadence'. Puritanism names the behaviour which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/my-brothers-and-sister-and-i-were-brought-up-in-an-atmosphere-which-i/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [“Him I delight in accepts joy as joy; He is richened by sorrow as a river by its bends”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/him-i-delight-in-accepts-joy-as-joy-he-is-richened-by-sorrow-as-a/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [I think of those who were truly great. The names of those who in their lives fought for life, Who wore at their hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/i-think-of-those-who-were-truly-great-the-names-of-those-who-in-their/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) [Explore all 64 Stephen Spender quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) ## More Centeredness quotes > [So much of the world's suffering results from the sinful action or inaction of ourselves and others. For example, people look at a famine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/so-much-of-the-world-s-suffering-results-from-the-sinful-action-or/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [We must get away from this limited \*I did this and I did that\* and the self-centeredness, that dominates our society Today. It must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/we-must-get-away-from-this-limited-i-did-this-and-i-did-that-and-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Raising or caring for children requires sacrifice and service, which, I believe, heals us from the destructive forces of self-centeredness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/raising-or-caring-for-children-requires-sacrifice-and-service-which-i/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Anxiety is the experience of growth itself. In any endeavor, how do you feel when you go from one stage to the next? The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-koestenbaum/anxiety-is-the-experience-of-growth-itself-in-any-endeavor-how-do-you/) [Peter Koestenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-koestenbaum/) > [I think we've become a TV culture, where we forget the live performer in front of us can see us. I think there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-benanti/i-think-we-ve-become-a-tv-culture-where-we-forget-the-live-performer/) [Laura Benanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-benanti/) > [Self-centeredness will bring on the destruction of our world. National pride separates people. All people need the same thing. When you really get down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/self-centeredness-will-bring-on-the-destruction-of-our-world-national/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Peace is a condition of the heart. It's a state of mind, of tranquility, of calmness, and of centeredness. It's an understanding of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/peace-is-a-condition-of-the-heart-it-s-a-state-of-mind-of-tranquility/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [To be politically activated is to dare to care about the happiness of others and that is just about the most important activity anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/to-be-politically-activated-is-to-dare-to-care-about-the-happiness-of/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [Immensity is always there, but we so often become numb to it, or deceive ourselves into thinking our own lives and selves are what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hirshfield/immensity-is-always-there-but-we-so-often-become-numb-to-it-or/) [Jane Hirshfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hirshfield/) > [Human cultures are all experiments in trying to find a form that will fit the matter of our immediacy; but it is absolutely not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/human-cultures-are-all-experiments-in-trying-to-find-a-form-that-will/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [Insecure leaders think everything is about them, and as a result, every action, every piece of information, every decision is put through their filter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/insecure-leaders-think-everything-is-about-them-and-as-a-result-every/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The whole story of the Father's Christ-exalting plan of redeeming love, from eternity to eternity, must be told, or the radical reorientation of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/the-whole-story-of-the-father-s-christ-exalting-plan-of-redeeming/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [I have no self-centeredness or ego about being a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahrukh-khan/i-have-no-self-centeredness-or-ego-about-being-a-movie-star/) [Shahrukh Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahrukh-khan/) > [We are unlikely to cease making gods or inventing ceremonies to please them for as long as we are afraid of death, or of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/we-are-unlikely-to-cease-making-gods-or-inventing-ceremonies-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I think that may be the biggest difference between Americans and people elsewhere. Unlike Americans, Canadians know that there are places just as real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/i-think-that-may-be-the-biggest-difference-between-americans-and/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) [Browse all 67 Centeredness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centeredness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The greatest poets are those with memories so great that they extend beyond their strongest experiences to their minutest observations of people and things far outside their own self-centeredness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Spender" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/the-greatest-poets-are-those-with-memories-so-great-that-they-extend/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Centeredness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/the-greatest-poets-are-those-with-memories-so-great-that-they-extend/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/stephen-spender-10665_centeredness_the-greatest-poets-are-those-with-memori_1452491.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/stephen-spender-10665_centeredness_the-greatest-poets-are-those-with-memori_1452491.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/stephen-spender-10665_centeredness_the-greatest-poets-are-those-with-memori_1452491.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The greatest poets are those with memories so great that they extend beyond their strongest experiences to…” — Stephen Spender", "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": "Stephen Spender", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The greatest poets are those with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/the-greatest-poets-are-those-with-memories-so-great-that-they-extend/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/the-greatest-poets-are-those-with-memories-so-great-that-they-extend/#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 } } ] } ```