--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The truest and greatest Poetry, (while…" description: "\"The truest and greatest Poetry, (while subtly and necessarily always rhythmic, and distinguishable easily enough) can never again, in the English langu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1eb/walt-whitman-265_arbitrary_the-truest-and-greatest-poetry-while-sub_832994.png" --- # The truest and greatest Poetry, (while subtly and… ![“The truest and greatest Poetry, (while subtly and necessarily always rhythmic, and distinguishable easily enough) can never again, in the English language, be express'd in arbitrary and rhyming metre, any more than the greatest eloquence, or the truest power and passion.” quote by Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1eb/walt-whitman-265_arbitrary_the-truest-and-greatest-poetry-while-sub_832994.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1eb/walt-whitman-265_arbitrary_the-truest-and-greatest-poetry-while-sub_832994.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1eb/walt-whitman-265_arbitrary_the-truest-and-greatest-poetry-while-sub_832994.png) > “The truest and greatest Poetry, (while subtly and necessarily always rhythmic, and distinguishable easily enough) can never again, in the English language, be express'd in arbitrary and rhyming metre, any more than the greatest eloquence, or the truest power and passion.” [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. Poetry’s true power lies beyond strict meter, embodying raw passion and eloquence. **In simple terms:** Poetry transcends rhyme. Key Takeaway Embrace free expression in writing. Themes creativity art language Mood inspirational thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - literary criticism - creative journaling Key Concepts form expression passion Questions to Reflect On - Can strict structure enhance artistic intent? - When does form serve content? A Different Perspective Rigid forms can still convey deep meaning for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) [Arbitrary Rhyming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary-rhyming-574247/) [Eloquence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eloquence/) [English language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-language/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Greatest poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-poetry/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Metre Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metre-greatest-574249/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Rhyming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhyming/) [Rhyming Metre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhyming-metre-574250/) [Truest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truest/) [Truest Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truest-greatest-574248/) ## Related quotes > [But most love poetry is awful; nobody knows how to write good love poetry either. 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Merwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-merwin/) > [Some of the greatest poetry is revealing to the reader the beauty in something that was so simple you had taken it for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/some-of-the-greatest-poetry-is-revealing-to-the-reader-the-beauty-in/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The woods are lovely, dark, and deep but I have promises to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-woods-are-lovely-dark-and-deep-but-i-have-promises-to-keep/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [...How many loved your moments of glad grace, And loved your beauty with love false or true, But one man loved the pilgrim soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/how-many-loved-your-moments-of-glad-grace-and-loved-your-beauty-with-3/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [All that is gold does not glitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/all-that-is-gold-does-not-glitter/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [“Sylvia Plath's greatest poetry was sometimes conceived while she was baking bread, she was such a perfectionist and ultimately such a fool. The trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/sylvia-plath-s-greatest-poetry-was-sometimes-conceived-while-she-was/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [Most people do not believe in anything very much and our greatest poetry is given to us by those who do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/most-people-do-not-believe-in-anything-very-much-and-our-greatest/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) > [“Memories are either the greatest poetry, when they are memories of a vital happiness, or a burning pain, when they touch dried wounds. p. 479”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-goncharov/memories-are-either-the-greatest-poetry-when-they-are-memories-of-a/) [Ivan Goncharov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-goncharov/) > [How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/how-do-i-love-thee-let-me-count-the-ways-i-love-thee-to-the-depth-and/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Well Ive been rhyming since I was 5 years old and I kinda stopped when I was 10. Then this summer I got back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diggy-simmons/well-ive-been-rhyming-since-i-was-5-years-old-and-i-kinda-stopped/) [Diggy Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diggy-simmons/) > [If you play jazz, then you play with your fingers. If you're playing rock, you use a pick. 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It consists mainly ofthe storm of thought that is forever flowing through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/life-does-not-consist-mainly-or-even-largely-of-facts-and-happenings/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) ## More by Walt Whitman > [O lands! O all so dear to me - what you are, I become part of that, whatever it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/o-lands-o-all-so-dear-to-me-what-you-are-i-become-part-of-that/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“Each of us inevitable, Each of us limitless—each of us with his or her right upon the earth, Each of us allow'd the eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/each-of-us-inevitable-each-of-us-limitless-each-of-us-with-his-or-her/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I have sometimes thought that the laws ought not to punish those actions of evil which are committed when the senses are steeped in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-laws-ought-not-to-punish-those/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Oh while I live, to be the ruler of life, not a slave, to meet life as a powerful conqueror, and nothing exterior to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/oh-while-i-live-to-be-the-ruler-of-life-not-a-slave-to-meet-life-as-a/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“it makes such difference where you read”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/it-makes-such-difference-where-you-read/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Wisdom is not finally tested in the schools, Wisdom cannot be pass'd from one having it to another not having it, Wisdom is of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/wisdom-is-not-finally-tested-in-the-schools-wisdom-cannot-be-pass-d/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Strange, (is it not?) that battles, martyrs, blood, even assassination should so condense - perhaps only really lastingly condense - a Nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/strange-is-it-not-that-battles-martyrs-blood-even-assassination/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I think I could always live with animals. The more you're around people, the more you love animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-think-i-could-always-live-with-animals-the-more-you-re-around/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“I am the poet of the Body and I am the poet of the Soul, The pleasures of heaven are with me and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-am-the-poet-of-the-body-and-i-am-the-poet-of-the-soul-the-pleasures/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [So here I sit in the early candle-light of old age-I and my book-casting backward glances over out travel'd road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/so-here-i-sit-in-the-early-candle-light-of-old-age-i-and-my-book/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Re-examine all you have been told. Dismiss what insults your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/re-examine-all-you-have-been-told-dismiss-what-insults-your-soul/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [This is what you shall do: love the earth and sun, and animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/this-is-what-you-shall-do-love-the-earth-and-sun-and-animals-despise/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Each of us inevitable; Each of us limitless-each of us with his or her right upon the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/each-of-us-inevitable-each-of-us-limitless-each-of-us-with-his-or-her-2/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Silence? What can New York-noisy, roaring, rumbling, tumbling, bustling, story, turbulent New York-have to do with silence? Amid the universal clatter, the incessant din…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/silence-what-can-new-york-noisy-roaring-rumbling-tumbling-bustling/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) [Explore all 775 Walt Whitman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) ## More Arbitrary quotes > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [Not to be offensive, not to be capricious, not to be arbitrary, not to be neurotic, not to be an actor outer, you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurt/not-to-be-offensive-not-to-be-capricious-not-to-be-arbitrary-not-to/) [William Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurt/) > [I don't concern myself with thinking ahead to the finished product. I focus more specifically on what the character is experiencing. Once you relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-thinking-ahead-to-the-finished-product-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-master-for-me-to-submit-to/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. Arbitrary detention, torture and discrimination hurt the human dignity of anybody, whatever his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/contrary-to-what-certain-governments-say-human-rights-are-universal/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [What causes adolescents to rebel is not the assertion of authority but the arbitrary use of power, with little explanation of the rules and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/what-causes-adolescents-to-rebel-is-not-the-assertion-of-authority/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. 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