Quote by W. H. Auden

All poets adore explosions, thunderstorms, tornadoes, conflagrations, ruins, scenes of spectacular carnage. The poetic imagination is therefore not at all a desirable quality in a chief of state.

All poets adore explosions, thunderstorms, tornadoes, confla

Summary

This quote suggests that poets, with their love for chaotic and destructive phenomena like explosions and ruins, possess an imaginative quality that may not be suited for a leader. The idea conveyed is that while poets appreciate the awe-inspiring and powerful aspects of the world, these qualities may be counterproductive in a person responsible for governing and leading a society. The quote implies that a chief of state should possess a more practical and pragmatic mindset, rather than being enraptured by the grandeur of destruction.

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