Actors are basically drag queens. People will tell you they act because they want to heal mankind or, you know, explore the nature of the human psyche. Yes, maybe. But basically we just want to put on a frock and dance.
Colin FirthRead
No good poem, however confessional it may be, is just a self-expression. Who on earth would claim that the pearl expresses the oyster?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that poetry transcends mere self-expression and requires craftsmanship.
C. Day Lewis illustrates the idea that while poetry often stems from personal experiences, it should not be reduced to mere self-expression. Instead, like a pearl which is an intricate product of an oyster's process, a poem embodies artistry and a deeper significance beyond the poet's individual feelings.
Themes
PoetrySelf-ExpressionArtistryCraftsmanshipPearlOyster
In practice
Example use cases
During a poetry workshop, I shared this quote to emphasize the importance of skill in writing.
Similar quotes
Sometimes I see it and then paint it. Other times I paint it and then see it. Both are impure situations, and I prefer neither.
Jasper JohnsRead
In the big picture I write for an audience of people I've never met. By the final draft I'm looking for anything in the prose that's prospectively boring to strangers.
Lionel ShriverRead
The constant fear of a performer is to become what is reflected back at you.
Linda RonstadtRead
All writing is in fact cut-ups. A collage of words read heard overheard. What else?
William S. BurroughsRead
I'm always terrified when I'm writing.
Mary KarrRead