"A poet ought not to pick nature's pocket. Let him borrow, and so borrow as to repay by the very act of borrowing. Examine nature accurately, but write from recollection, and trust more to the imagination than the memory"

This quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge motivates poets to utilize their imagination when writing, rather than relying entirely on memory. He suggests that poets need to observe nature carefully, however then write from their recollections of what they have seen. He is warning versus taking too much from nature, as if one were selecting its pocket. Rather, he recommends that poets need to obtain from nature, and after that repay it by creating something stunning with the inspiration they have actually taken. Coleridge is emphasizing the value of imagination in poetry, and the need to be innovative and original. He is likewise recommending that poets need to be respectful of nature, and not take too much from it. By using their creativity, poets can produce something unique and gorgeous that pays homage to nature.