If a poet interprets a poem of his own he limits its suggestibility.
William Butler YeatsRead
For to articulate sweet sounds together Is to work harder than all these, and yet Be thought an idler by the noisy set Of bankers, schoolmasters, and clergymen The martyrs call the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Creating art is a laborious process that is often unrecognized by those who prioritize conventional success.
In this quote, William Butler Yeats reflects on the nature of artistic creation, emphasizing that the effort put into creating beauty through art is substantial and often undervalued by society. While the artists toil to produce their work, they may be dismissed as idle by those who are engaged in more conventional, noisy professions, such as banking or teaching, which society tends to glorify.
Themes
ArtCreationEffortSocietyBeautyValue
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of creativity, one might use this quote to highlight the dedication of artists.
More from William Butler Yeats
All quotes →It was my first meeting with a philosophy that confirmed my vague speculations and seemed at once logical and boundless.
William Butler YeatsRead
But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
William Butler YeatsRead
How far away the stars seem, and how far is our first kiss, and ah, how old my heart.
William Butler YeatsRead
For he would be thinking of love Till the stars had run away And the shadows eaten the moon.
William Butler YeatsRead
Love is created and preserved by intellectual analysis, for we love only that which is unique, and it belongs to contemplation, not to action, for we would not change that which we love.
William Butler YeatsRead
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