All imperfection is easier to tolerate if served up in small doses.
Wislawa SzymborskaRead
I prefer the absurdity of writing poems to the absurdity of not writing poems.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote celebrates the act of creation in poetry as preferable to the emptiness of not engaging in artistic expression.
Wislawa Szymborska's quote highlights the paradox of art, suggesting that the act of writing poetry, even if it seems absurd or futile, holds more value than the emptiness that comes from not expressing oneself creatively. It reflects an appreciation for the intrinsic worth of artistic pursuits, emphasizing that the journey of creation itself can be more fulfilling than the outcomes or societal judgments surrounding it.
Themes
PoetryCreationAbsurdityArtExpression
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a poetry reading to encourage others to embrace the creative process.
More from Wislawa Szymborska
All quotes βI started earning a living as a poet rather early on.
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But they know about us, they know, the four corners, and the chairs nearby us. Discerning shadows also know, and even the table keeps quiet.
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I've reached the age of self-knowledge, so I don't know anything. People who claim that they know something are responsible for most of the fuss in the world.
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Every beginning is only a sequel, after all, and the book of events is always open halfway through.
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I cannot imagine any writer who would not fight for his peace and quiet.
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I cannot write in verse, for I am no poet. I cannot arrange the parts of speech with such art as to produce effects of light and shade, for I am no painter. Even by signs and gestures I cannot express my thoughts and feelings, for I am no dancer. But I can do so by means of sounds, for I am a musician.
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I am increasingly attracted to restricting possibility in the poem by inflicting a form upon yourself. Once you impose some formal pattern on yourself, then the poem is pushing back. I think good poems are often the result of that kind of wrestling with the form.
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A true musician, like Johnny Cash, should be able to walk into a room with nothing but an instrument and capture people's attention for two hours.
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