All imperfection is easier to tolerate if served up in small doses.
Wislawa SzymborskaRead
I'm fighting against the bad poet who is prone to using too many words.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote criticizes writers who overcomplicate their poetry by using excessive language.
Wislawa Szymborska highlights the importance of clarity and precision in poetry, suggesting that good poetry should communicate its message effectively without unnecessary verbosity. By criticizing the 'bad poet,' she underscores the value of simplicity and the art of using just the right number of words to evoke emotion and meaning.
Themes
PoetrySimplicityClarityLanguageCommunication
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a writing workshop to encourage participants to focus on clarity in their poetry.
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 prefer the absurdity of writing poems to the absurdity of not writing poems.
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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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