The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from ashes and rise.
Miguel De CervantesRead
Nay, what is worse, perhaps turn poet, which, they say, is an infectious and incurable distemper.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that becoming a poet is a contagious and permanent affliction.
Cervantes humorously implies that the desire to create poetry is not only a delightful aspiration but also a kind of madness that one cannot escape once it takes hold. This reflects the passionate and often overwhelming nature of artistic expression, suggesting that those who become poets may find it to be both a wonderful gift and an uncontrollable challenge in their lives.
Themes
PoetryArtCreativityMadnessExpression
In practice
Example use cases
During a literary event, one might use this quote to highlight the unpredictable journey of becoming an artist.
More from Miguel De Cervantes
All quotes βPatience and shuffle the cards.
Miguel De CervantesRead
It's up to brave hearts, sir, to be patient when things are going badly, as well as being happy when they're going well ... For I've heard that what they call fortune is a flighty woman who drinks too much, and, what's more, she's blind, so she can't see what she's doing, and she doesn't know who she's knocking over or who she's raising up.
Miguel De CervantesRead
When the head aches, all the members partake of the pain.
Miguel De CervantesRead
Though Gods attributes are equal, yet his mercy is more attractive and pleasing in our eyes than his justice.
Miguel De CervantesRead
If you are ambitious of climbing up to the difficult, and in a manner inaccessible, summit of the Temple of Fame, your surest way is to leave on one hand the narrow path of Poetry, and follow the narrower track of Knight-Errantry, which in a trice may raise you to an imperial throne.
Miguel De CervantesRead
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