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David Lehman Quotes

Powerful David Lehman for Daily Growth

About David Lehman

David Lehman (born October 13, 1948) is an American poet, editor, critic, and educator, renowned for his lyrical verses and significant contributions to contemporary poetry. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Lehman grew up in a Jewish family with strong literary roots. His mother was a nurse and his father, David A. Lehman, was a poet, novelist, and editor who worked at Harper & Brothers and later became the literary editor of The New York Times Magazine. Lehman's early education took place at Yeshiva University High School for Boys, where he honed his writing skills under the tutelage of poet Richard P. Orlick. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Boston University. Lehman's poetry career began in earnest with the publication of his first book, "Love and Other Moods," in 1973. This collection showcased Lehman's gift for crafting rich, evocative verse that draws heavily on personal experience and emotional depth. Over the subsequent decades, he has published numerous other volumes of poetry, including "The Daily Mirror" (1990), a series of sonnets that were later compiled in "New & Selected Poems" (1998). In addition to his own work, Lehman has made significant contributions as an editor. He edited the groundbreaking anthology "The Best American Erotic Poems: 1800 to the Present" (2008) and co-edited "The Oxford Book of American Poetry" (2006). Lehman's influences span many centuries and cultures, but he is perhaps best known for his role in the New Formalism movement, which advocates for traditional poetic forms such as sonnets, villanelles, and terza rima. Through his teaching positions at various universities and his work as an editor, Lehman continues to inspire a new generation of poets. His latest collection, "The Evening Sun," was published in 2019.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Art is a kind of innate drive that escapes all attempts to rationalize or tame it."

The quote suggests that artistic expression is an inherent, untamable force within us. It resists logical explanation or control. This interpretation emphasizes the emotional, intuitive, and unpredictable nature of art, which makes it a unique and valuable aspect of human experience.

"Poetry is not the luxury of the lone individual; poetry belongs to the community."

This quote emphasizes that poetry is not solely the domain of isolated individuals, but rather it is a communal expression and experience. Poetry, in this perspective, is a means for people to connect, share thoughts, emotions, and ideas within a collective, fostering a sense of unity and understanding among them. The power of poetry lies in its ability to transcend personal boundaries and resonate with others, making it an essential part of any community.

"A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom."

This quote suggests that the creative process of writing a poem originates from a sense of joy, fascination, or wonder (delight), which then evolves into a deeper understanding, insight, or philosophical perspective (wisdom). In essence, it implies that poetry serves as a vehicle for exploring and expressing both emotional and intellectual aspects of the human experience.

"The task of the poet is to find the words that will bring the hidden closer to the manifest."

This quote by David Lehman suggests that poetry has a profound role in unveiling the intangible, inner world, making it more tangible or understandable for others. Poets are seekers of language, who strive to reveal hidden truths, emotions, or insights through their words, thus bringing the abstract and elusive aspects of life closer to our conscious understanding and appreciation.

"To be a poet, one must have the heart of a peacock and the soul of a clown."

This quote by David Lehman suggests that to be a poet, one needs two essential qualities: a peacock's flamboyance (the heart) and a clown's vulnerability and emotional expressiveness (the soul). In other words, poets should possess the ability to display their beauty and unique perspective (like a peacock), but also have the courage to expose their emotions and vulnerabilities (as a clown does) in their work.

If you have too good a time writing hostile reviews, you'll injure not only your sensibility but your soul.

- David Lehman

Soul, Your, Hostile, Reviews

Words can have no single fixed meaning. Like wayward electrons, they can spin away from their initial orbit and enter a wider magnetic field. No one owns them or has a proprietary right to dictate how they will be used.

- David Lehman

Away, Used, Wider, Dictate

Poetry criticism at its worst today is mean in spirit and spiteful in intent, as if determined to inflict the wound that will spur the artist to new heights if it does not cripple him or her.

- David Lehman

Artist, New, Will, Spiteful

The best song lyrics seem to me so artful, so brilliant, so warm and humorous, with both passion and wit, that my admiration is matched only by my envy.

- David Lehman

Song, Wit, Brilliant, Humorous

If you're not paying for it through the health plan, you pay for it in the emergency room.

- David Lehman

Health, Through, Paying, Emergency Room

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