QuoteProject
I try to stay a civilian, to live as a human, not as a poet.
Yehuda Amichai
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects a desire to live a simple, human life rather than being defined solely by one's artistic identity.

Yehuda Amichai expresses the tension between being an artist and living a grounded, ordinary life. By stating his intention to remain a 'civilian', he highlights the importance of maintaining human connections and experiences above the pressures that come with being a poet. This sentiment resonates with the idea that a person's value isn’t solely defined by their profession or artistic role, but rather their shared humanity.

Themes

HumanPoetLifeIdentityArt

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the balance between passion and practicality, you might quote this to emphasize the importance of staying grounded.

More from Yehuda Amichai

And as we stray further from love, we multiply the words. Had we remained together we could have become a silence.
Yehuda AmichaiRead

Similar quotes

If you take a few days to write an outline, you're just making up scenes that you think will work, that you think will be interesting. But as you write it, other ideas occur - better ideas that have to do with what you're writing.
Elmore LeonardRead
What do dancers think of Fred Astaire? It's no secret. We hate him. He gives us a complex because he's too perfect. His perfection is an absurdity. It's too hard to face.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead
Retire? I'm going to stay in show business until I'm the only one left
George BurnsRead
Those of us in the industry who are still foolishly clinging to the idea that female films with women at the center are niche experiences - they are not. Audiences want to see them and, in fact, they earn money. The world is round, people.
Cate BlanchettRead
The creation of a work of art, like an act of love, is our one small 'yes' at the center of a vast 'no.'
Gore VidalRead
Good poetry and successful revolution change our lives. And you cannot compose a good poem or wage a revolution without changing consciousness unless you attack the language that you share with your enemies and invent a language that you share with your allies.
June JordanRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.