--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've written on public matters, but I…" description: "\"I've written on public matters, but I don't understand how anyone could tout me as a possible poet laureate when I wrote a poem on the abdication of Ki..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/tony-harrison-11449_king_i-ve-written-on-public-matters-but-i-don_920317.jpg" --- # I've written on public matters, but I don't understand how… ![“I've written on public matters, but I don't understand how anyone could tout me as a possible poet laureate when I wrote a poem on the abdication of King Charles III or about the sex life of the Royals... anybody who knew my work would know I'm not a contender.” quote by Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/tony-harrison-11449_king_i-ve-written-on-public-matters-but-i-don_920317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/tony-harrison-11449_king_i-ve-written-on-public-matters-but-i-don_920317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/tony-harrison-11449_king_i-ve-written-on-public-matters-but-i-don_920317.jpg) > “I've written on public matters, but I don't understand how anyone could tout me as a possible poet laureate when I wrote a poem on the abdication of King Charles III or about the sex life of the Royals... anybody who knew my work would know I'm not a contender.” [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) ## 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 doubts their suitability for a poetic honor because their work focuses on contemporary royal scandals rather than traditional poetic themes. **In simple terms:** I doubt I fit a poet laureate role due to my royal‑focused poems. Key Takeaway Recognize how subject matter influences public perception of artistic roles. Themes self‑doubt public perception artistic identity Mood reflective skeptical Type personal defensive When to use this quote - media interviews - literary award nominations - public speaking - personal branding Key Concepts celebrity culture literary reputation Questions to Reflect On - Do you think a poet laureate must reflect national values? - How does controversy affect artistic credibility? A Different Perspective Critics may value technical skill over topical relevance, challenging the speaker's self‑assessment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sex life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex-life/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [In short, it became possible - never easy, but possible - in the poet Auden's phrase to find the mortal world enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-greenblatt/in-short-it-became-possible-never-easy-but-possible-in-the-poet-auden/) [Stephen Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-greenblatt/) > [ It is not possible, for a poet, writing in any language, to protect himself from the tragic elements in human life… \[ellipsis in source\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/it-is-not-possible-for-a-poet-writing-in-any-language-to-protect/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [In old days books were written by men of letters and read by the public. Nowadays books are written by the public and read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-old-days-books-were-written-by-men-of-letters-and-read-by-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The first 20 stories written about a public figure set the tone for the next 2,000 and it is almost impossible to reverse it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/the-first-20-stories-written-about-a-public-figure-set-the-tone-for/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [It is only fair to state, with regard to modern journalists, that they always apologize to one in private for what they have written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-only-fair-to-state-with-regard-to-modern-journalists-that-they/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Go on thinking that you don't need to be read and you'll find that it may become quite true: no one will feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/go-on-thinking-that-you-don-t-need-to-be-read-and-you-ll-find-that-it/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [If you would get money as a writer or lecturer, you must be popular, which is to go down perpendicularly… You are paid for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-you-would-get-money-as-a-writer-or-lecturer-you-must-be-popular/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a student at Harvard University, and currently work as the United States Youth Poet Laureate, a community organizer, and an activist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-gorman/i-m-a-student-at-harvard-university-and-currently-work-as-the-united/) [Amanda Gorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-gorman/) > [“You know what I love about you? You can go from cussing sailor to poet laureate in three seconds without batting an eyelash. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgina-guthrie/you-know-what-i-love-about-you-you-can-go-from-cussing-sailor-to-poet/) [Georgina Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgina-guthrie/) > [Being Poet Laureate made me realize I was capable of a larger voice. There is a more public utterance I can make as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/being-poet-laureate-made-me-realize-i-was-capable-of-a-larger-voice/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [There are distinct duties of a poet laureate. I plan a reading series at the Library of Congress and advise the librarian. The rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/there-are-distinct-duties-of-a-poet-laureate-i-plan-a-reading-series/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [People write me from all over the country, asking me, and sometimes even telling me, what they think a poet laureate should do. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/people-write-me-from-all-over-the-country-asking-me-and-sometimes/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [I certainly was surprised to be named Poet Laureate of this far-out city on the left side of the world, and I gratefully accept,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/i-certainly-was-surprised-to-be-named-poet-laureate-of-this-far-out/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [As poet laureate, I was asked to be a spokesman for literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/as-poet-laureate-i-was-asked-to-be-a-spokesman-for-literature/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [“So I don’t think I’ll make Poet Laureate, but I swear I’m not twisted and bitter, If finely-wrought talents don’t weigh in the balance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosy-cole/so-i-don-t-think-i-ll-make-poet-laureate-but-i-swear-i-m-not-twisted/) Rosy Cole ## More by Tony Harrison > [For me, there is a paradox in poetry, which is like the paradox in tragedy. You have the most terrible subject, but it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/for-me-there-is-a-paradox-in-poetry-which-is-like-the-paradox-in/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [I am capable of bad taste - deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/i-am-capable-of-bad-taste-deliberately/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [I have always loved radio as a medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/i-have-always-loved-radio-as-a-medium/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [Why shouldn't poetry address what happened yesterday and be published in the newspaper?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/why-shouldn-t-poetry-address-what-happened-yesterday-and-be-published/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [I love being on the road with others, with a camera, but also being alone writing poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/i-love-being-on-the-road-with-others-with-a-camera-but-also-being/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [“Smokers of the world unite! On t'count o' three, all light up, right? 1-2-3... You've all been cowed. I've changed the law and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/smokers-of-the-world-unite-on-t-count-o-three-all-light-up-right-1-2/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [A lot of my activity in the theatre, and even in writing poems, was a kind of retrospective aggro on the English teacher who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/a-lot-of-my-activity-in-the-theatre-and-even-in-writing-poems-was-a/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [I hate the anglicanisation of culture, the idea that culture is genteel. It's not genteel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/i-hate-the-anglicanisation-of-culture-the-idea-that-culture-is/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [Not becoming 'something' scares me the most. I just want to be remembered for something great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/not-becoming-something-scares-me-the-most-i-just-want-to-be/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [I think it's the tendency to want to create gods and monotheistic absolutes and absolute certainties that is the continual temptation in human thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/i-think-it-s-the-tendency-to-want-to-create-gods-and-monotheistic/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [There's a kind of despair about whether art can really do anything, but you have to incorporate that despair into the way you work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/there-s-a-kind-of-despair-about-whether-art-can-really-do-anything/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [I really admire the great Japanese artists who could change their name three times in a lifetime. You could get rid of one and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/i-really-admire-the-great-japanese-artists-who-could-change-their/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [I wanted to learn Latin and Greek and become a poet and acquire power over language. I only understand this clearly in retrospect, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/i-wanted-to-learn-latin-and-greek-and-become-a-poet-and-acquire-power/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [I'm not the sort of person who reads much about himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/i-m-not-the-sort-of-person-who-reads-much-about-himself/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > ['Night Mail' belongs quintessentially to the age of steam. It is impossible to simply go with the idea of remaking it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/night-mail-belongs-quintessentially-to-the-age-of-steam-it-is/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) [Explore all 60 Tony Harrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) ## More King quotes > [“Wasn’t it Machiavelli who said ‘Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-brasher/wasn-t-it-machiavelli-who-said-any-man-who-tries-to-be-good-all-the/) Darius Brasher > [“Kings don’t move mountains as a favor to a friend,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/kings-don-t-move-mountains-as-a-favor-to-a-friend/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [People from all walks of life that you might find as a King Diamond fan - you don't look a certain way; you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-diamond/people-from-all-walks-of-life-that-you-might-find-as-a-king-diamond/) [King Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-diamond/) > ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. Before I got out of the car he said, 'They're scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/melanin-man-was-inspired-by-the-words-of-an-uber-driver-in-l-a-before/) [Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/) > [Kenny King, his character on TV is him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lashley/kenny-king-his-character-on-tv-is-him/) [Bobby Lashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lashley/) > [They say that the commons of England would first destroy the king's friends and afterward himself, and then bring the Duke of York to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-cade/they-say-that-the-commons-of-england-would-first-destroy-the-king-s/) [Jack Cade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-cade/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I never knew about racial segregation until Martin Luther King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/i-never-knew-about-racial-segregation-until-martin-luther-king/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [President Obama's achievements and failures must be evaluated by comparison to those chief executives who have come before him and not be measured against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-garrow/president-obama-s-achievements-and-failures-must-be-evaluated-by/) [David Garrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-garrow/) > [Had Elijah Muhammad tried to introduce an orthodox form of Arab-oriented Islam, I doubt if he would have attracted 500 people, but he introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/had-elijah-muhammad-tried-to-introduce-an-orthodox-form-of-arab/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [Rest in peace, King Kong Bundy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-waltman/rest-in-peace-king-kong-bundy/) [Sean Waltman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-waltman/) > [My crown is in my heart, not on my head; not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, nor to be seen: my crown is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-crown-is-in-my-heart-not-on-my-head-not-decked-with-diamonds-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Be a Kingmaker, Not Just a King.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-seow-how/be-a-kingmaker-not-just-a-king/) [Tan Seow How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-seow-how/) > [Being happy is better than being a King...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-sibiya/being-happy-is-better-than-being-a-king/) [Elton Sibiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-sibiya/) > [I'm like a big kid. But it's not like a called myself the Instagram King. 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