To know anything of a poet but his poetry is, so far as the poetry is concerned, to know something that may be entertaining, even delightful, but is certainly inessential.

Summary

This quote suggests that understanding a poet's personal life or background is not necessary in appreciating their poetry. It implies that the true essence and value of a poet lies solely in their poetic works and that knowledge about their personal life might be entertaining, but ultimately irrelevant. The quote highlights the idea that the essence of a poet is encapsulated within their art, and to fully appreciate and analyze their poetry, one should focus solely on the literary merits of their work.

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