In [The New Poetry] I had attacked the British poets' nervous preference for gentility above all else, and their avoidance of the uncomfortable, destructive truths both of the inner life and of the present time.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author criticizes poets who prioritize politeness over confronting the difficult realities of inner life and the current era.
- In plain terms
- Poets should avoid being too polite and face hard truths.
- What can you take from it?
- Art must confront uncomfortable realities.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is truth more important than beauty?
- When is gentility useful?
Another view
Politeness can sometimes serve as a necessary social bridge.
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