Give me hunger, pain and want, Shut me out with shame and failure From your doors of gold and fame, Give me your shabbiest, weariest hunger! But leave me a little love.
Carl SandburgRead
I knew I would read all kinds of books and try to get at what it is that makes good writers good. But I made no promises that I would write books a lot of people would like to read.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the author's commitment to studying literature without the obligation to please readers.
In this quote, Carl Sandburg expresses his dedication to exploring the qualities that contribute to successful writing. He acknowledges the importance of understanding and analyzing great literature, yet he also embraces the freedom of artistic expression, implying that the value of writing does not necessarily lie in its popularity among readers.
Themes
WritingLiteratureCreativityExpressionStudy
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop when discussing the importance of authentic expression.
More from Carl Sandburg
All quotes →Nothing happens... but first a dream.
Carl SandburgRead
Read the dictionary from A to Izzard today. Get a vocabulary. Brush up on your diction. See whether wisdom is just a lot of language.
Carl SandburgRead
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Carl SandburgRead
There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud.
Carl SandburgRead
A liar goes in fine clothes, a liar goes in rags, a liar is a liar, clothes or no clothes.
Carl SandburgRead
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