---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But oh, mesdames, if you are not allowed…"
description: "\"“But oh, mesdames, if you are not allowed to touch the heart sometimes in spite of syntax, and are not to be loved until you all know the difference be..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_poetry_but-oh-mesdames-if-you-are-not-allowed-t_950785.jpg"
---

#  But oh, mesdames, if you are not allowed to touch the…

![“But oh, mesdames, if you are not allowed to touch the heart sometimes in spite of syntax, and are not to be loved until you all know the difference between trimeter and tetrameter, may all Poetry go to the deuce, and every schoolmaster perish miserably!” quote by William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_poetry_but-oh-mesdames-if-you-are-not-allowed-t_950785.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_poetry_but-oh-mesdames-if-you-are-not-allowed-t_950785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_poetry_but-oh-mesdames-if-you-are-not-allowed-t_950785.jpg)

> ““But oh, mesdames, if you are not allowed to touch the heart sometimes in spite of syntax, and are not to be loved until you all know the difference between trimeter and tetrameter, may all Poetry go to the deuce, and every schoolmaster perish miserably!””

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Poetry constrained by technical rules loses its emotional power.

**In simple terms:** Poetry should feel, not just follow form.

Key Takeaway

Embrace feeling over strict meter.

Themes

art creativity form

Mood

playful critical

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- poetry workshops
- creative writing
- education

Key Concepts

meter vs. emotion literary criticism

Questions to Reflect On

- Should poets prioritize form or feeling?
- How does rule‑breaking affect impact?

A Different Perspective

Technical perfection can stifle authenticity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Mesdames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mesdames-1694631/) [Mesdames Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mesdames-allowed-1694632/) [Oh Mesdames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oh-mesdames-1694630/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry Deuce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-deuce-1286780/) [Tetrameter Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tetrameter-poetry-1694629/)

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