---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While I don't satisfy my curiosity about…"
description: "\"While I don't satisfy my curiosity about the way I work, I'm terribly curious about the way other poets work. But I would think that's true about many ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/thom-gunn-15259_about_while-i-don-t-satisfy-my-curiosity-about_1587260.png"
---

#  While I don't satisfy my curiosity about the way I work…

![“While I don't satisfy my curiosity about the way I work, I'm terribly curious about the way other poets work. But I would think that's true about many of us.” quote by Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/thom-gunn-15259_about_while-i-don-t-satisfy-my-curiosity-about_1587260.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/thom-gunn-15259_about_while-i-don-t-satisfy-my-curiosity-about_1587260.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/thom-gunn-15259_about_while-i-don-t-satisfy-my-curiosity-about_1587260.png)

> “While I don't satisfy my curiosity about the way I work, I'm terribly curious about the way other poets work. But I would think that's true about many of us.”

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

## About This Quote

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

Curiosity about others' creative processes reveals a desire to understand diverse artistic methods.

**In simple terms:** We learn by studying others' work.

Key Takeaway

Explore how other artists create.

Themes

creativity curiosity learning

Mood

inquisitive analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- creative workshops
- literary studies
- cross‑disciplinary projects
- mentor relationships

Key Concepts

artistic process comparative analysis inspiration

Questions to Reflect On

- What techniques do you admire in other poets?
- How can you apply their methods to your own work?

A Different Perspective

One may never fully grasp another's inner drive.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Curious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curious/) [Curious Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curious-way-1619492/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets/) [Poets Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets-work-2098838/) [Satisfy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfy/) [Terribly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terribly/) [Terribly Curious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terribly-curious-6008316/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [While](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/while/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/)

## Related quotes

> [I think poets should work in the non-literary, non-academic world, get to know more than a workshop or a university.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-think-poets-should-work-in-the-non-literary-non-academic-world-get/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [Think it's so unfair when people think that you're not a "real artist" unless you're getting paid for it…I personally know so many poets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/think-it-s-so-unfair-when-people-think-that-you-re-not-a-real-artist/)

[Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/)

> [Growth, in some curious way, I suspect, depends on being always in motion just a little bit, one way or another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/growth-in-some-curious-way-i-suspect-depends-on-being-always-in/)

[Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/)

> [“Poetry is a poets work in clandestine chemistry and there is no ethic other than poethics!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dona-mayoora/poetry-is-a-poets-work-in-clandestine-chemistry-and-there-is-no-ethic/)

[Dona Mayoora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dona-mayoora/)

> [“Scientists should think like poets and work like accountants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson-2/scientists-should-think-like-poets-and-work-like-accountants/)

[E.O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson-2/)

> [How much is enough to satisfy you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher/how-much-is-enough-to-satisfy-you/)

[Mazher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher/)

> [Black audiences are hard. They always think they're better than you. So you got to come with a little extra to satisfy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/black-audiences-are-hard-they-always-think-they-re-better-than-you-so/)

[Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/)

> [So what can satisfy me, A trailer load of money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vybz-kartel/so-what-can-satisfy-me-a-trailer-load-of-money/)

[Vybz Kartel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vybz-kartel/)

> [And I wana 'pologize for bein just a little freaky, I cant help it, its just in me. but a problem, it is not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/and-i-wana-pologize-for-bein-just-a-little-freaky-i-cant-help-it-its/)

[Ne-yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/)

> [A reality that is electronic... Once everybody's got a computer terminal in their home, to satisfy all their needs, all the domestic needs, there'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard/a-reality-that-is-electronic-once-everybody-s-got-a-computer-terminal/)

[J. G. Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-ballard/)

> [“Sex doesn't satisfy for a lifetime, the more you have it, the more you want it. And the more you have it, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/sex-doesn-t-satisfy-for-a-lifetime-the-more-you-have-it-the-more-you/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [Every song that I compose has to satisfy the music director in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gopi-sundar/every-song-that-i-compose-has-to-satisfy-the-music-director-in-me/)

[Gopi Sundar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gopi-sundar/)

> [That human life must be some kind of mistake is sufficiently proved by the simple observation that man is a compound of needs which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/that-human-life-must-be-some-kind-of-mistake-is-sufficiently-proved/)

[Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/)

> [“Nothing will ever be enough to satisfy the black hole in our hearts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soman-chainani/nothing-will-ever-be-enough-to-satisfy-the-black-hole-in-our-hearts/)

[Soman Chainani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soman-chainani/)

> [A draft doesn't produce the people we need to satisfy our real manpower shortage. We need specialists to keep our jets flying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/a-draft-doesn-t-produce-the-people-we-need-to-satisfy-our-real/)

[Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/)

## More by Thom Gunn

> [How sociable the garden was. We ate and talked in given light. The children put their toys to grass All the warm wakeful August…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/how-sociable-the-garden-was-we-ate-and-talked-in-given-light-the/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [It was difficult being a teacher and out of the closet in the '50s. By the time I retired, the English department was proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/it-was-difficult-being-a-teacher-and-out-of-the-closet-in-the-50s-by/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [We tend to put poems into factions. And it restricts our reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/we-tend-to-put-poems-into-factions-and-it-restricts-our-reading/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [We control the content of our dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/we-control-the-content-of-our-dreams/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [Deep feeling doesn't make for good poetry. A way with language would be a bit of help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/deep-feeling-doesn-t-make-for-good-poetry-a-way-with-language-would/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [My old teacher's definition of poetry is an attempt to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/my-old-teacher-s-definition-of-poetry-is-an-attempt-to-understand/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [I admired what my students were writing, but I think their improvement doesn't directly result from me but from being in a class, being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/i-admired-what-my-students-were-writing-but-i-think-their-improvement/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [One joins the movement in a valueless world, Choosing it, till both hurler and the hurled, One moves as well, always toward, toward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/one-joins-the-movement-in-a-valueless-world-choosing-it-till-both/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [As humans we look at things and think about what we've looked at. We treasure it in a kind of private art gallery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/as-humans-we-look-at-things-and-think-about-what-we-ve-looked-at-we/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [I was at a benefit for some imprisoned students in the '60s at San Francisco State, and there were lots of poets reading for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/i-was-at-a-benefit-for-some-imprisoned-students-in-the-60s-at-san/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [“At worse, one is in motion; and at best, Reaching no absolute, in which to rest, One is always nearer by not keeping still.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/at-worse-one-is-in-motion-and-at-best-reaching-no-absolute-in-which/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [There have been two popular subjects for poetry in the last few decades: the Vietnam War and AIDS, about both of which almost all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/there-have-been-two-popular-subjects-for-poetry-in-the-last-few/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [I deliberately wrote a poem in my last book where I was suggesting that there are other passions as great as or more important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/i-deliberately-wrote-a-poem-in-my-last-book-where-i-was-suggesting/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [I was much influenced by Jean-Paul Sartre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/i-was-much-influenced-by-jean-paul-sartre/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

> [I don't think of sex as a self-destructive impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/i-don-t-think-of-sex-as-a-self-destructive-impulse/)

[Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

[Explore all 43 Thom Gunn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

[Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "While I don't satisfy my curiosity about the way I work, I'm terribly curious about the way other poets work. But I would think that's true about many of us.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thom Gunn"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/while-i-don-t-satisfy-my-curiosity-about-the-way-i-work-i-m-terribly/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/while-i-don-t-satisfy-my-curiosity-about-the-way-i-work-i-m-terribly/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/thom-gunn-15259_about_while-i-don-t-satisfy-my-curiosity-about_1587260.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/thom-gunn-15259_about_while-i-don-t-satisfy-my-curiosity-about_1587260.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36d/thom-gunn-15259_about_while-i-don-t-satisfy-my-curiosity-about_1587260.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“While I don't satisfy my curiosity about the way I work, I'm terribly curious about the way other poets…” — Thom Gunn",
                "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": "Thom Gunn",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "While I don't satisfy my curiosity...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/while-i-don-t-satisfy-my-curiosity-about-the-way-i-work-i-m-terribly/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/while-i-don-t-satisfy-my-curiosity-about-the-way-i-work-i-m-terribly/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
