"As things are, and as fundamentally they must always be, poetry is not a career, but a mug's game. No honest poet can ever feel quite sure of the permanent value of what he has written: He may have wasted his time and messed up his life for nothing."

Truth

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Insight & Reflection

The theme of truth is universal, yet T. S. Eliot manages to capture its essence in a uniquely profound way. Taking a moment to internalize this can shift our mindset, reminding us that our perspective on truth often shapes our reality.

About T. S. Eliot

Thomas Stearns Eliot was a poet, essayist and playwright. He was a leading figure of modernist poetry in the English language where he altered the art through his use of pessimistic language, writing style, and verse structure. Awarded the 1948 Nobel Prize in Literature, he is considered one of the greatest poets of the English language. He is also noted for his critical essays, which often re-evaluated long-held cultural beliefs.

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Editorial Note: This quote is curated and fact-checked by the Quotes Archive Editorial Team. Verified Literature Specialist.

More by T. S. Eliot

"I don't believe one grows older. I think that what happens early on in life is that at a certain age one stands still and stagnates."

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"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."

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"Poetry should help, not only to refine the language of the time, but to prevent it from changing too rapidly."

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More about Truth

"It is a humble truth that every second given to regret is a precious second stolen from creation — an essential principle for the reflective life."

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"It is a subtle truth that bravery is born the moment you decide your values outweigh your comforts — an essential principle for the reflective life."

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"It is a humble truth that the stoutest timber is forged in the fiercest gales, not in the sheltered grove."

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