Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different. The good poet welds his theft into a whole of feeling which is unique, utterly different from that from which it was torn; the bad poet throws it into something which has no cohesion.

Summary

This quote by T.S. Eliot highlights the distinction between immature, bad, and good poets. Immature poets simply imitate the works of others while mature poets recognize the value in "stealing" ideas and inspiration. However, bad poets fail to enhance what they take and instead ruin it, resulting in something incoherent. On the other hand, good poets skillfully integrate their borrowed material, creating a unique and cohesive piece that is unrecognizable from its original source. This quote emphasizes the creative transformation and originality that sets good poets apart from the rest.

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