--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At times it has been doubtful to me if…" description: "\"At times it has been doubtful to me if Emerson really knows or feels what Poetry is at its highest, as in the Bible, for instance, or Homer or Shakspea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/walt-whitman-265_bible_at-times-it-has-been-doubtful-to-me-if-e_114884.png" --- # At times it has been doubtful to me if Emerson really… ![“At times it has been doubtful to me if Emerson really knows or feels what Poetry is at its highest, as in the Bible, for instance, or Homer or Shakspeare. I see he covertly or plainly likes best superb verbal polish, or something old or odd” quote by Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/walt-whitman-265_bible_at-times-it-has-been-doubtful-to-me-if-e_114884.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/walt-whitman-265_bible_at-times-it-has-been-doubtful-to-me-if-e_114884.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a5/walt-whitman-265_bible_at-times-it-has-been-doubtful-to-me-if-e_114884.png) > “At times it has been doubtful to me if Emerson really knows or feels what Poetry is at its highest, as in the Bible, for instance, or Homer or Shakspeare. I see he covertly or plainly likes best superb verbal polish, or something old or odd” [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Whitman questions whether Emerson truly grasps the deepest poetic spirit found in ancient texts, suggesting Emerson prefers polished language over profound substance. **In simple terms:** Whitman doubts Emerson's poetic depth, favoring style over meaning. Key Takeaway True poetry demands depth beyond surface elegance. Themes poetry literary criticism authorship aesthetic values Mood skeptical analytical Type critical observation literary commentary When to use this quote - Evaluating a poet's work - Literary workshop feedback - Academic debate on canon Key Concepts concept of poetic authenticity tension between form and substance Practical Applications - Encourage reading original sources - Prioritize thematic depth in writing Questions to Reflect On - What defines the highest form of poetry? - Can polished language ever convey profound ideas? A Different Perspective Whitman's view may undervalue Emerson's philosophical contributions that are not strictly poetic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [In philosophy equally as in poetry it is the highest and most useful prerogative of genius to produce the strongest impressions of novelty, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/in-philosophy-equally-as-in-poetry-it-is-the-highest-and-most-useful/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The book of Job is pure Arab poetry of the highest and most antique cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-book-of-job-is-pure-arab-poetry-of-the-highest-and-most-antique/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Poetry is only the highest eloquence of passion, the most vivid form of expression that can be given to our conception of anything, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/poetry-is-only-the-highest-eloquence-of-passion-the-most-vivid-form/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [As poetry is the highest speech of man, it can not only accept and contain, but in the end express best everything in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-aiken/as-poetry-is-the-highest-speech-of-man-it-can-not-only-accept-and/) [Conrad Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-aiken/) > [How poetic you are," she said. 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