"I thought I'd begin by reading a poem by Shakespeare, but then I thought, why should I? He never reads any of mine"
- Spike Milligan
About this Quote
This quote by Spike Milligan is a funny take on the concept of reciprocity. He is recommending that he will not read a poem by Shakespeare, as Shakespeare has actually never ever read any of his poems. This might be interpreted as a discuss the absence of recognition that Milligan has actually gotten for his work, or it could be an easy going joke about the truth that Shakespeare is a popular poet and Milligan is not. It could also be seen as a comment on the idea of artistic competitors, as Milligan is suggesting that he is not willing to take on Shakespeare. Whatever the interpretation, this quote is a funny method of revealing the idea that acknowledgment need to be shared.
"With the question of the effect of a poem, the topic of investigation shifts from that of textual autonomy to textual reception - to the issue of what we actually look for or find in reading a poem"
"The heart of the matter seems to me to be the direct interaction between one's making a poem in English and a poem in the language that one understands and values. I don't see how you can do it otherwise"
"A revolutionary poem will not tell you who or when to kill, what and when to burn, or even how to theorize. It reminds you... where and when and how you are living and might live, it is a wick of desire"
