Quote by H. L. Mencken
I have often argued that a poet more than thirty years old is simply an overgrown child. I begin to suspect that there may be some truth in it.
Summary
This quote suggests that as poets grow older, they may lose the essential qualities of youthful creativity and imagination. The speaker argues that poets above the age of thirty become "overgrown children" because they become less attuned to the natural wonder and unhampered creativity that children possess. Furthermore, the speaker implies that aging may diminish a poet's ability to connect with their emotions and produce genuine and impactful pieces of work. However, the quote also acknowledges that the speaker's belief may be somewhat flawed or overly exaggerated, as they express doubt about its validity.