If a poet interprets a poem of his own he limits its suggestibility.
William Butler YeatsRead
An intellectual hatred is the worst, So let her think opinions are accursed. Have I not seen the loveliest woman born Out of the mouth of Plenty's horn, Because of her opinionated mind Barter that horn and every good By quiet natures understood For an old bellows full of angry wind?
Interpretation
What this quote means
Intellectual hatred and rigid opinions hinder genuine beauty and understanding.
In this quote, Yeats expresses that an 'intellectual hatred' is detrimental, suggesting that rigid, negative opinions can stifle appreciation for real beauty and value in life. He observes that even a seemingly flawed mind can produce wonderful outcomes, highlighting the importance of openness and understanding over dogmatism.
Themes
HatredOpinionsBeautyUnderstandingKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about the value of differing opinions in society.
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.
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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.
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