I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early poetry, and bad poets publish it. Thankfully I gave up rather quickly.

Umberto Eco
About This Quote

The poet, W. H. Auden, makes a distinction between poetry as the teenage sensation and as a more mature activity. As one becomes older, he feels less and less compelled to write. However, he says poetry has value for those who can keep writing it no matter what happens in life.

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