Poetry is a street fighter. It has sharp elbows. It can look after itself. Poetry can't be used for manipulation; it's why you never see good poetry in advertising.
David WhyteRead
Being young and trying to catch a glimpse of the depths, of the true self, of the soul, or whatever human beings have called it over the centuries, we often find ourselves surrounded by bossy, hectoring voices trying to short-circuit our personal experience by super-imposing their own disappointments. Much of this bossiness masquerades as an education.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the struggle of young individuals to discover their true selves amidst the overwhelming influences of others' opinions and disappointments.
David Whyte reflects on the journey of youth as they seek to understand their essence amidst the noise of societal expectations and criticisms. He warns that many voices, often disguised as educational or guiding, can hinder personal growth by imposing their own limitations and disappointments onto young minds. The essence of the quote is a reminder that genuine self-discovery can be obscured by external pressures, and it is crucial to navigate through these challenges to find one's authentic self.
Themes
Self-DiscoveryYouthPersonal GrowthEducationAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
Speaking at a graduation ceremony to encourage students to trust their own experiences.
More from David Whyte
All quotes →Poetry is often the art of overhearing yourself say things you didn't know you knew. It is a learned skill to force yourself to articulate your life, your present world or your possibilities for the future.
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By definition, poetry works with qualities and dynamics that mainstream society is reluctant to face head-on. It's an interesting phenomenon that by necessity, poetry is just below the radar.
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The severest test of work today, is not of our strategies, but of our imaginations and identities.
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We learn, grow and become compassionate and generous as much through exile as homecoming, as much through loss as gain, as much through giving things away as in receiving what we believe to be our due.
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