--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a faultless poem could be produced, I…" description: "\"If a faultless poem could be produced, I am satisfied it would tire the critics themselves; and annoy the whole reading world with the spleen.\" — Walte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walter-scott-775_annoying_if-a-faultless-poem-could-be-produced-i_2985400.png" --- # If a faultless poem could be produced, I am satisfied it… ![“If a faultless poem could be produced, I am satisfied it would tire the critics themselves; and annoy the whole reading world with the spleen.” quote by Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walter-scott-775_annoying_if-a-faultless-poem-could-be-produced-i_2985400.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walter-scott-775_annoying_if-a-faultless-poem-could-be-produced-i_2985400.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walter-scott-775_annoying_if-a-faultless-poem-could-be-produced-i_2985400.png) > “If a faultless poem could be produced, I am satisfied it would tire the critics themselves; and annoy the whole reading world with the spleen.” [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even a perfect poem would tire critics and irritate readers, showing art’s power to provoke. **In simple terms:** A flawless poem would still annoy. Key Takeaway Create art that challenges. Themes art literature critique creativity Mood provocative thought‑provoking Type literary critical When to use this quote - writing workshops - literary criticism - publishing - public readings Key Concepts aesthetic provocation literary criticism authorial intent Questions to Reflect On - What makes a work truly provocative? - How do audiences react to challenging art? A Different Perspective Critics may resist novelty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Annoy Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annoy-reading-4664745/) [Annoying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annoying/) [Critics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics/) [Critics Annoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics-annoy-4123771/) [Faultless Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faultless-poem-4664744/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Poem Produced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem-produced-281921/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Satisfied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfied/) [Spleen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spleen/) [Tire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tire/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The only critics who annoy me are the ones who come to my shows even when they're clearly not fans of my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcintyre/the-only-critics-who-annoy-me-are-the-ones-who-come-to-my-shows-even/) [Michael McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcintyre/) > [We hold that the most wonderful and splendid proof of genius is a great poem produced in a civilized age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-hold-that-the-most-wonderful-and-splendid-proof-of-genius-is-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The kind of poem I produced in those days was hardly anything more than a sign I made of being alive, of passing or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/the-kind-of-poem-i-produced-in-those-days-was-hardly-anything-more-2/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“The kind of poem I produced in those days was hardly anything more than a sign I made of being alive, of passing or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/the-kind-of-poem-i-produced-in-those-days-was-hardly-anything-more/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [Odd that the brain could function on its own, without acquainting him with its purposes, its reasons. But the brain was an organ, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/odd-that-the-brain-could-function-on-its-own-without-acquainting-him/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [If your breath is very deep in the lungs, it will give you a good red blood. Good red blood, with the oxygen, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/if-your-breath-is-very-deep-in-the-lungs-it-will-give-you-a-good-red/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [The spleen is seldom felt where Flora reigns; The low'ring eye, the petulance, the frown, And sullen sadness, that o'ershade, distort, And mar the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-spleen-is-seldom-felt-where-flora-reigns-the-low-ring-eye-the/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [There is a luxury in self-dispraise; And inward self-disparagement affords To meditative spleen a grateful feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/there-is-a-luxury-in-self-dispraise-and-inward-self-disparagement/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [One good, hearty laugh is a bombshell exploding in the right place, while spleen and discontent are a gun that kicks over the man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-witt-talmage/one-good-hearty-laugh-is-a-bombshell-exploding-in-the-right-place/) [Thomas De Witt Talmage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-witt-talmage/) > [Man, proud man, Drest in a little brief authority, Most ignorant of what he's most assured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/man-proud-man-drest-in-a-little-brief-authority-most-ignorant-of-what/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [And if I were to open you up - would you see anything less remarkable? Less intricately dazzling, in its squelching, spongy way? Lungs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-if-i-were-to-open-you-up-would-you-see-anything-less-remarkable/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Spleen Je suis comme le roi d'un pays pluvieux, Riche, mais impuissant, jeune et pourtant très vieux, Qui, de ses précepteurs méprisant les courbettes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/spleen-je-suis-comme-le-roi-d-un-pays-pluvieux-riche-mais-impuissant/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [Liberals claim to love gays when it allows them to vent their spleen at Republicans. But disagree with liberals and their first response is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/liberals-claim-to-love-gays-when-it-allows-them-to-vent-their-spleen/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“Must I observe you? Must I stand & crouch Under your testy humour? By the gods, You shall digest the venom of your spleen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/must-i-observe-you-must-i-stand-crouch-under-your-testy-humour-by-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“It raises my spleen more than any thing, to have the pretence of being asked, of being given a choice, and at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/it-raises-my-spleen-more-than-any-thing-to-have-the-pretence-of-being/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) ## More by Walter Scott > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Where shall the lover rest, Whom the fates sever From his true maiden's breast, Parted for ever? Where, through groves deep and high, Sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-shall-the-lover-rest-whom-the-fates-sever-from-his-true-maiden/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [O! many a shaft, at random sent, Finds mark the archer little meant! And many a word, at random spoken, May soothe or wound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/o-many-a-shaft-at-random-sent-finds-mark-the-archer-little-meant-and/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [And better had they ne'er been born, Who read to doubt, or read to scorn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/and-better-had-they-ne-er-been-born-who-read-to-doubt-or-read-to-scorn/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Where is the coward that would not dare to fight for such a land as Scotland?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-is-the-coward-that-would-not-dare-to-fight-for-such-a-land-as/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Loud o'er my head though awful thunders roll, And vivid lightnings flash from pole to pole, Yet 'tis Thy voice, my God, that bids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/loud-o-er-my-head-though-awful-thunders-roll-and-vivid-lightnings/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The race of humankind would perish did they cease to aid each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/the-race-of-humankind-would-perish-did-they-cease-to-aid-each-other/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“but he had only received that sort of answer usually given by those who are more obstinate in following their own course, than strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/but-he-had-only-received-that-sort-of-answer-usually-given-by-those/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“Love rules the court, the camp, the grove, and men below, and the saints above, for love is heaven, and heaven is love. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/love-rules-the-court-the-camp-the-grove-and-men-below-and-the-saints/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Fortune may raise up or abuse the ordinary mortal, but the sage and the soldier should have minds beyond her control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/fortune-may-raise-up-or-abuse-the-ordinary-mortal-but-the-sage-and/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [But woe awaits a country when She sees the tears of bearded men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/but-woe-awaits-a-country-when-she-sees-the-tears-of-bearded-men/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [In peace, Love tunes the shepherd's reed; In war, he mounts the warrior's steed; In halls, in gay attire is seen; In hamlets, dances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/in-peace-love-tunes-the-shepherd-s-reed-in-war-he-mounts-the-warrior/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Honour is a homicide and a bloodspiller, that gangs about making frays in the street; but Credit is a decent honest man, that sits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/honour-is-a-homicide-and-a-bloodspiller-that-gangs-about-making-frays/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“The lovers of the chase say that the hare feels more agony during the pursuit of the greyhounds, than when she is struggling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/the-lovers-of-the-chase-say-that-the-hare-feels-more-agony-during-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [I am she, O most bucolical juvenal, under whose charge are placed the milky mothers of the herd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/i-am-she-o-most-bucolical-juvenal-under-whose-charge-are-placed-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) [Explore all 372 Walter Scott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) ## More Annoying quotes > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The book it reminded me of most is Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life. Like Miller, Shields manages to convey his affection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-book-it-reminded-me-of-most-is-henry-miller-s-the-books-in-my/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [When you're standing around for an hour doing stand up it's no big deal but when you're standing around watching a show for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/when-you-re-standing-around-for-an-hour-doing-stand-up-it-s-no-big/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [Belief is a good thing in principle, but an annoying thing in human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/belief-is-a-good-thing-in-principle-but-an-annoying-thing-in-human/) [Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/) > [Shut the fuck up ur so annoying and you think your the shit lmao sit the fuck down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shut-the-fuck-up-ur-so-annoying-and-you-think-your-the-shit-lmao-sit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only kind of freedom that the mob can imagine is freedom to annoy and oppress its betters, and that is precisely the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-kind-of-freedom-that-the-mob-can-imagine-is-freedom-to-annoy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Die, enemies of Ra!" Sekhemet yelled. "Perish in agony!" "She's almost as annoying as you," I told Horus. "Impossible," Horus said. "No one bests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/die-enemies-of-ra-sekhemet-yelled-perish-in-agony-she-s-almost-as/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [My middle finger is used when words aren't enough for people to understand that they're annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-middle-finger-is-used-when-words-aren-t-enough-for-people-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [...Be grateful for what you have to be thankful for instead of complaining about the little things that annoy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/be-grateful-for-what-you-have-to-be-thankful-for-instead-of/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Would you want people walking up to you and pointing at your d--k? I can't believe I'm still talking about this. But I've worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/would-you-want-people-walking-up-to-you-and-pointing-at-your-d-k-i/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [I ceased in the year 1764 to believe that one can convince one’s opponents with arguments printed in books. It is not to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/i-ceased-in-the-year-1764-to-believe-that-one-can-convince-one-s/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [WikiLeaks is irritating and annoying for Germany, but not a threat. From an international perspective, I see their actions as totally irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/wikileaks-is-irritating-and-annoying-for-germany-but-not-a-threat/) [Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/) > [It doesn't annoy me but I think of myself as a presenter who is gay, rather than a gay presenter. It's a subtle distinction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-davis/it-doesn-t-annoy-me-but-i-think-of-myself-as-a-presenter-who-is-gay/) [Evan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-davis/) [Browse all 1,217 Annoying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annoying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a faultless poem could be produced, I am satisfied it would tire the critics themselves; and annoy the whole reading world with the spleen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Scott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/if-a-faultless-poem-could-be-produced-i-am-satisfied-it-would-tire/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Annoying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/if-a-faultless-poem-could-be-produced-i-am-satisfied-it-would-tire/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walter-scott-775_annoying_if-a-faultless-poem-could-be-produced-i_2985400.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walter-scott-775_annoying_if-a-faultless-poem-could-be-produced-i_2985400.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f5/walter-scott-775_annoying_if-a-faultless-poem-could-be-produced-i_2985400.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If a faultless poem could be produced, I am satisfied it would tire the critics themselves; and annoy the…” — Walter Scott", "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": "Walter Scott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If a faultless poem could be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/if-a-faultless-poem-could-be-produced-i-am-satisfied-it-would-tire/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/if-a-faultless-poem-could-be-produced-i-am-satisfied-it-would-tire/#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 } } ] } ```