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Too much is demanded by the critic, attempted by the poet.
John Crowe Ransom
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the disparity between the expectations of critics and the efforts of poets.

John Crowe Ransom's quote suggests that critics often have high demands and expectations for artistic creation, while poets strive to meet those demands through their creative endeavors. This reflects the often stressful relationship between artists and their critics, indicating that poets work hard to achieve artistic expression, yet find it difficult to satisfy the often unattainable standards set by those who critique their work.

Themes

CriticismPoetryArtCreationExpectations

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a discussion about the pressures artists face from their audiences.

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