--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The poet's first job of work is to put…" description: "\"The poet's first job of work is to put bread on the table.\" — Yvor Winters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/yvor-winters-31443_bread_the-poet-s-first-job-of-work-is-to-put-b_1187305.jpg" --- # The poet's first job of work is to put bread on the table. ![“The poet's first job of work is to put bread on the table.” quote by Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/yvor-winters-31443_bread_the-poet-s-first-job-of-work-is-to-put-b_1187305.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/yvor-winters-31443_bread_the-poet-s-first-job-of-work-is-to-put-b_1187305.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/yvor-winters-31443_bread_the-poet-s-first-job-of-work-is-to-put-b_1187305.jpg) > “The poet's first job of work is to put bread on the table.” [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A poet’s primary duty is to earn a living, not just create art. **In simple terms:** Poets must earn a living too. Key Takeaway Balance artistic work with practical needs. Themes work art livelihood Mood pragmatic thoughtful Type professional reflective When to use this quote - freelance writing - teaching - publishing - budgeting Key Concepts economics creativity Questions to Reflect On - How do you sustain creativity financially? - What compromises are acceptable for livelihood? A Different Perspective May undervalue artistic purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) [First job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-job/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [You know, you have to put bread on the table. So you thank God you got the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-macleod/you-know-you-have-to-put-bread-on-the-table-so-you-thank-god-you-got/) [Gavin MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-macleod/) > [I need to put bread on the table man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latrell-sprewell/i-need-to-put-bread-on-the-table-man/) [Latrell Sprewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latrell-sprewell/) > [The tillage of the soil occupies the vast majority of those who work for their own bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/the-tillage-of-the-soil-occupies-the-vast-majority-of-those-who-work/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [The beginning and almost the end of all good law is that everyone shall work for their bread and receive good bread for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-beginning-and-almost-the-end-of-all-good-law-is-that-everyone/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/let-there-be-work-bread-water-and-salt-for-all/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Ask for work. If they don't give you work, ask for bread. If they do not give you work or bread, then take bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/ask-for-work-if-they-don-t-give-you-work-ask-for-bread-if-they-do-not/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Pretty sad that we define each other by what we do to put bread on the table rather than what makes us come alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pretty-sad-that-we-define-each-other-by-what-we-do-to-put-bread-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked as a truck driver, carpenter's assistant, doing whatever it took to keep bread on the table for the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-glenn/i-worked-as-a-truck-driver-carpenter-s-assistant-doing-whatever-it/) [Scott Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-glenn/) > [The poet's job is to put into words those feelings we all have that are so deep, so important, and yet so difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-kenyon/the-poet-s-job-is-to-put-into-words-those-feelings-we-all-have-that/) [Jane Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-kenyon/) > [My focus is on the reader and that the poet's job is not to inspire himself or herself. The poet's job is to inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/my-focus-is-on-the-reader-and-that-the-poet-s-job-is-not-to-inspire/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [Take a commonplace, clean it and polish it, light it so that it produces the same effect of youth and freshness and originality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/take-a-commonplace-clean-it-and-polish-it-light-it-so-that-it/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Being a poet is not a job or a profession but a way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-raine/being-a-poet-is-not-a-job-or-a-profession-but-a-way-of-life/) [Kathleen Raine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-raine/) > [My focus is on the reader and that the poet's job is not to inspire himself or herself. The poet's job is to inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/my-focus-is-on-the-reader-and-that-the-poet-s-job-is-not-to-inspire-2/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [The job of the poet (a job which can't be learned) consists of placing those objects of the visible world which have become invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/the-job-of-the-poet-a-job-which-can-t-be-learned-consists-of-placing/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [A poet's job is to find a name for everything: to be a fearless finder of the names of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-kenyon/a-poet-s-job-is-to-find-a-name-for-everything-to-be-a-fearless-finder/) [Jane Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-kenyon/) ## More by Yvor Winters > [Even though poetry was written for the 'minds ear' as well as the physical ear, the minds ear can be trained only by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/even-though-poetry-was-written-for-the-minds-ear-as-well-as-the/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [The land is numb. It stands beneath the feet, and one may come Walking securely, till the sea extends Its limber margin, and precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/the-land-is-numb-it-stands-beneath-the-feet-and-one-may-come-walking/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [By practice and conviction formed, With ancient stubbornness ingrained, Although her body clung and swarmed, My own identity remained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/by-practice-and-conviction-formed-with-ancient-stubbornness-ingrained/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [Far out of sight forever stands the sea, Bounding the land with pale tranquillity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/far-out-of-sight-forever-stands-the-sea-bounding-the-land-with-pale/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [“And when I found your flesh did not resist, It was the living spirit that I kissed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/and-when-i-found-your-flesh-did-not-resist-it-was-the-living-spirit/) [YVOR WINTERS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [And one rose in a tent of sea and gave A darkening shudder; water fell away; The whale stood shining, and then sank in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/and-one-rose-in-a-tent-of-sea-and-gave-a-darkening-shudder-water-fell/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [Professors of literature, who for the most part are genteel but mediocre men, can make but a poor defense of their profession, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/professors-of-literature-who-for-the-most-part-are-genteel-but/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [Gascoigne, Ben Jonson, Greville, Raleigh, Donne, Poets who wrote great poems, one by one, And spaced by many years, each line an act Through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/gascoigne-ben-jonson-greville-raleigh-donne-poets-who-wrote-great/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [The rain of matter upon sense Destroys me momently. The score: There comes what will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/the-rain-of-matter-upon-sense-destroys-me-momently-the-score-there/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [The passion to condense from book to book Unbroken wisdom in a single look, Though we know well that when this fix the head,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/the-passion-to-condense-from-book-to-book-unbroken-wisdom-in-a-single/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [“To say that a poet is justified in employing a disintegrating form in order to express a feeling of disintegration, is merely a sophistical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/to-say-that-a-poet-is-justified-in-employing-a-disintegrating-form-in/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [Far out of sight forever standsthe sea, Bounding the land with pale tranquillity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/far-out-of-sight-forever-standsthe-sea-bounding-the-land-with-pale/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [Reptilian green the wrinkled throat, Green as a bough of yew the beard; He bent his head, and so I smote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/reptilian-green-the-wrinkled-throat-green-as-a-bough-of-yew-the-beard/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [What I desire of a poem is a clear understanding of motive, and a just evaluation of feeling A poem in the first place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/what-i-desire-of-a-poem-is-a-clear-understanding-of-motive-and-a-just/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) > [“I. IN WINTER Myself Pale mornings, and I rise. Still Morning Snow air--my fingers curl. Awakening New snow, O pine of dawn! Winter Echo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/i-in-winter-myself-pale-mornings-and-i-rise-still-morning-snow-air-my/) [Yvor Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) [Explore all 16 Yvor Winters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/) ## More Bread quotes > [French women don't eat Wonder Bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireille-guiliano/french-women-don-t-eat-wonder-bread/) [Mireille Guiliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireille-guiliano/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [I don't eat meat - chicken, fish, none of that. I eat a lot of vegetable sandwiches, like lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts, cucumbers, whatever I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gza/i-don-t-eat-meat-chicken-fish-none-of-that-i-eat-a-lot-of-vegetable/) Gza > [“We should remark the grace and fascination that there is even in the incidentals of Nature's processes.. When a loaf of bread,. for instance,.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-should-remark-the-grace-and-fascination-that-there-is-even-in-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [When I met you you were oh so sweet, now you give me the bread and you take all the meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/when-i-met-you-you-were-oh-so-sweet-now-you-give-me-the-bread-and-you/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [When you fight to give your family bread, that's not passion anymore: that's conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoel-romero/when-you-fight-to-give-your-family-bread-that-s-not-passion-anymore/) [Yoel Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoel-romero/) > [I think the best Thanksgiving we ever had was one where we didn't even have a turkey. Mom and Dad sat us kids down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-the-best-thanksgiving-we-ever-had-was-one-where-we-didn-t/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [Bread is a second cause; the LORD Himself is the first source of our sustenance. He can work without the second cause as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bread-is-a-second-cause-the-lord-himself-is-the-first-source-of-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Even if we have to go without bread, we Albanians do not violate principles. We do not betray Marxism - Leninism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enver-hoxha/even-if-we-have-to-go-without-bread-we-albanians-do-not-violate/) [Enver Hoxha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enver-hoxha/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [“Nine times out of ten, people pick the wrong food. No, it’s not the sugar (GI = 68), it’s not the candy bar (GI…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-perlmutter/nine-times-out-of-ten-people-pick-the-wrong-food-no-it-s-not-the/) [David Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-perlmutter/) > [Waffles аrе јust awesome bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/waffles-r-ust-awesome-bread/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [At my age, I don't buy but a half a loaf of bread, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/at-my-age-i-don-t-buy-but-a-half-a-loaf-of-bread-you-know/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [Jesus Christ would have been considered just another long-haired hippie freak if he hadn't been crucified. The folks weren't impressed with healing the sick,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/jesus-christ-would-have-been-considered-just-another-long-haired/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [“To consume the Eucharist is an act of anticonsumption, for here to consume is to be consumed, to be taken up into participation in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-cavanaugh/to-consume-the-eucharist-is-an-act-of-anticonsumption-for-here-to/) [William T. Cavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-cavanaugh/) [Browse all 2,164 Bread quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The poet's first job of work is to put bread on the table.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yvor Winters" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/the-poet-s-first-job-of-work-is-to-put-bread-on-the-table/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bread" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/the-poet-s-first-job-of-work-is-to-put-bread-on-the-table/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/yvor-winters-31443_bread_the-poet-s-first-job-of-work-is-to-put-b_1187305.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/yvor-winters-31443_bread_the-poet-s-first-job-of-work-is-to-put-b_1187305.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/yvor-winters-31443_bread_the-poet-s-first-job-of-work-is-to-put-b_1187305.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The poet's first job of work is to put bread on the table.” — Yvor Winters", "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": "Yvor Winters", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvor-winters/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The poet's first job of work...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/the-poet-s-first-job-of-work-is-to-put-bread-on-the-table/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvor-winters/the-poet-s-first-job-of-work-is-to-put-bread-on-the-table/#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 } } ] } ```