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As far as I'm concerned, freedom is the most important thing to creativity. You should feel free to write in whatever way, whatever language, feels comfortable to you.
Edward Hirsch
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Freedom is essential for creativity, allowing individuals to express themselves in their own unique way.

This quote emphasizes the importance of freedom in the creative process, suggesting that true creativity thrives when individuals are free to express themselves without restrictions. Edward Hirsch advocates for personal comfort and authenticity in writing, implying that the language and style one chooses should be driven by a sense of liberation rather than convention or obligation.

Themes

FreedomCreativityExpressionWritingComfort

In practice

Example use cases

In a workshop about creative writing, one might use this quote to inspire participants to explore their own styles and voices.

More from Edward Hirsch

It's absolutely crucial to maintain my life as a poet.
Edward HirschRead
The commitment to working at poetry is important because a poet is a maker, and a poem is a made thing. We have to honor our feelings by working to transform them into something meaningful and lasting.
Edward HirschRead
The idea that a poem was a made thing stayed with me, and I decided then that I wanted to be an artist, not just a diarist. So I put myself through a kind of apprenticeship in writing poetry, and I understood even then that my practice as a poet was deeply related to my reading.
Edward HirschRead
And every year there is a brief, startling moment _x000D_ When we pause in the middle of a long walk home and _x000D_ Suddenly feel something invisible and weightless _x000D_ Touching our shoulders, sweeping down from the air: _x000D_ It is the autumn wind pressing against our bodies; _x000D_ It is the changing light of fall falling on us.
Edward HirschRead
When poetry separates from song, then the words have to carry all the rhythm themselves; they have to do all the work. They can't rely on the singing voice.
Edward HirschRead
The idea of a poem as a message in a bottle means that it's sent out towards some future reader, and the reader who opens that bottle becomes the addressee of the literary text.
Edward HirschRead

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When you have a reputation for making not only good songs but great albums, that in itself creates added artistic pressure. But, at the end of the day, I guess that pressure is something I welcome.
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Quote by Edward Hirsch | QuoteProject