--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have kind of an almost religious…" description: "\"I have kind of an almost religious feeling about poets. I usually refuse to meet them because I admire them so much. Except for Poe.\" — Tony Kushner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/tony-kushner-2204_admire_i-have-kind-of-an-almost-religious-feeli_3103433.jpg" --- # I have kind of an almost religious feeling about poets. I… ![“I have kind of an almost religious feeling about poets. I usually refuse to meet them because I admire them so much. Except for Poe.” quote by Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/tony-kushner-2204_admire_i-have-kind-of-an-almost-religious-feeli_3103433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/tony-kushner-2204_admire_i-have-kind-of-an-almost-religious-feeli_3103433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46e/tony-kushner-2204_admire_i-have-kind-of-an-almost-religious-feeli_3103433.jpg) > “I have kind of an almost religious feeling about poets. I usually refuse to meet them because I admire them so much. Except for Poe.” [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) ## 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 reveres poets to an almost sacred level, keeping distance to preserve admiration, except for Poe who feels more approachable. **In simple terms:** Poets are revered but kept distant; Poe is an exception. Key Takeaway Respect art, but allow personal connection. Themes admiration distance literature Mood reflective respectful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - literary criticism - personal mentorship - reading groups Key Concepts aesthetic reverence iconography Questions to Reflect On - Do you keep distance from those you admire? - What makes Poe different? A Different Perspective Idealizing can prevent genuine interaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) ## Related quotes > [I defer to all these other American poets who, for some reason, I both envy and admire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-olson/i-defer-to-all-these-other-american-poets-who-for-some-reason-i-both/) [Charles Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-olson/) > [Most poets, like most people, try hard to be like someone they admire or they are possessed with an image of what they ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-broughton/most-poets-like-most-people-try-hard-to-be-like-someone-they-admire/) [James Broughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-broughton/) > [“In my view, it is the most important function of art and science to awaken this religious feeling and keep it alive in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/in-my-view-it-is-the-most-important-function-of-art-and-science-to/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“There was something religious in grandmother's face, not in any sanctimoniously devout or ecstatic sense,but a look full of religious feeling, serenity and resignation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-rybakov/there-was-something-religious-in-grandmother-s-face-not-in-any/) [Anatoli Rybakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-rybakov/) > [The most important function of art and science is to Awaken the cosmic religious feeling and keep it alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-important-function-of-art-and-science-is-to-awaken-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A conviction akin to religious feeling of the rationality or intelligibility of the world lies behind all scientific work of a high order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-conviction-akin-to-religious-feeling-of-the-rationality-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Religious feeling is thus an absolute addition to the subject's range of life. 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