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Poets are never allowed to be mediocre by the gods, by men or by publishers.
Horace
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Poets are expected to achieve excellence in their work, as they are held to a higher standard by society.

This quote by Horace emphasizes that poets, as creators of art and expression, are subjected to rigorous expectations from various sources, including divine forces, human society, and the publishing industry. It suggests that mediocrity is not an option for poets, who must strive for greatness in their craft to be recognized and valued.

Themes

PoetryExcellenceCreativityExpectationArtistic Standard

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech on the importance of arts education, one might say, 'As Horace noted, poets are never allowed to be mediocre; we must encourage our young artists to strive for greatness.'

More from Horace

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It is of no consequence of what parents a man is born, as long as he be a man of merit.
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