--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Turn pimp, flatterer, quack, lawyer…" description: "\"Turn pimp, flatterer, quack, lawyer, parson, be chaplain to an atheist, or stallion to an old woman, anything but a poet; for a poet is worse, more ser..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/william-congreve-5161_atheism_turn-pimp-flatterer-quack-lawyer-parson_938206.jpg" --- # Turn pimp, flatterer, quack, lawyer, parson, be chaplain… ![“Turn pimp, flatterer, quack, lawyer, parson, be chaplain to an atheist, or stallion to an old woman, anything but a poet; for a poet is worse, more servile, timorous and fawning than any I have named.” quote by William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/william-congreve-5161_atheism_turn-pimp-flatterer-quack-lawyer-parson_938206.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/william-congreve-5161_atheism_turn-pimp-flatterer-quack-lawyer-parson_938206.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/william-congreve-5161_atheism_turn-pimp-flatterer-quack-lawyer-parson_938206.jpg) > “Turn pimp, flatterer, quack, lawyer, parson, be chaplain to an atheist, or stallion to an old woman, anything but a poet; for a poet is worse, more servile, timorous and fawning than any I have named.” [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) ## 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 lists many respectable roles but declares poet as the worst, viewing poets as servile and fawning compared to others. **In simple terms:** Poets are seen as overly subservient and insincere. Key Takeaway Recognize the value of poetic honesty. Themes literature humor self‑deprecation Mood witty satirical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - literary criticism - self‑reflection - career choice Key Concepts social hierarchy artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - Why does the speaker disdain poets? - What does this reveal about societal values? A Different Perspective May be a hyperbolic satire, not literal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Chaplains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaplains/) [Flatterer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flatterer/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Old woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-woman/) [Pimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pimp/) [Pimp Flatterer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pimp-flatterer-1582073/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poet Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet-worse-1582070/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Quacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quacks/) [Stallions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stallions/) [Turn Pimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-pimp-1582071/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Worse Servile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse-servile-1582072/) ## Related quotes > [The U.S. Army has recently removed the cross from the insignia worn by chaplains. 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