Quote by A. R. Ammons

If we ask a vague question, such as, 'What is poetry?' we expect a vague answer, such as, 'Poetry is the music of words,' or 'Poetry is the linguistic correction of disorder.'

If we ask a vague question, such as, 'What is poetry?' we ex

Summary

This quote highlights the connection between the clarity of a question and the specificity of the answer received. By providing a vague question like "What is poetry?", one can anticipate receiving equally ambiguous responses. The quote suggests that vague questions often yield imprecise or general answers, lacking in concrete details. In this case, the examples given portray poetry as a form of art or expression rather than offering a definitive explanation. It emphasizes the importance of asking clear and specific questions to elicit more precise and thorough answers.

Topics

Poetry

By A. R. Ammons

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

Being a famous writer is a little like being a tall dwarf. Y

Being a famous writer is a little like being a tall dwarf. You're on the edge of normality.

Fame

Programming graphics in X is like finding the square root of

Programming graphics in X is like finding the square root of PI using Roman numerals.

Programs & Programming

The young are generally full of revolt, and are often pretty

The young are generally full of revolt, and are often pretty revolting about it.

Mignon McLaughlin

Revolution

There's this index that tallies up how much your movies have

There's this index that tallies up how much your movies have made, and if they haven't grossed a certain amount, then you're not bankable. I know I'm not Will Smith but, you know, my ranking's pretty low. The only studio picture I've done is 'Zodiac,' and that didn't perform that well.

Movies

Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll

Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity.

Adversity

I grew up in the '80s where there's a lot of these kind of p

I grew up in the '80s where there's a lot of these kind of post-apocalyptic, post-comet, post-whatever it was, so that always captured my imagination a lot as a little kid, that idea of getting access to secret places and being able to roam around where you're not supposed to.

Imagination

Moreover, the practical recommendations deduced from ecologi

Moreover, the practical recommendations deduced from ecological principles threaten the vested interests of commerce it is hardly surprising that the financial and political power created by these investments should be used sometimes to suppress environmental impact studies.

Environmental

What we can do, we must do: we must use what we are given, a

What we can do, we must do: we must use what we are given, and we must use it the best we can, however much or little help we have for the task. What you have been given is a hard thing--a very hard thing... But my darling, what if there were no one who could do the difficult things?

Inspirational Doing Right

But the development of human society does not go straight fo

But the development of human society does not go straight forward and the epic process will therefore be a recurring process, the series a recurring series - though not in exact repetition.

Lascelles Abercrombie

Society

Don't clap too hard - it's a very old building.

Don't clap too hard - it's a very old building.

Architecture

I don't believe in team motivation. I believe in getting a t

I don't believe in team motivation. I believe in getting a team prepared so it knows it will have the necessary confidence when it steps on a field and be prepared to play a good game.

Teamwork

True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious depe

True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The great blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.

Seneca (Seneca the Elder)

Happiness