"It's a sad fact about our culture that a poet can earn much more money writing or talking about his art than he can by practicing it"

This quote by W. H. Auden talks to the unfortunate reality of our culture today. It is a sad reality that poets, and other artists, are unable to earn a living solely from their art. Rather, they should depend on writing or talking about their art in order to earn money. This implies that the focus of their work shifts away from the art itself and towards the promo of it. This can be discouraging for artists who are enthusiastic about their craft and wish to make a living from it. It is an embarassment that our culture does not worth art enough to make it a practical profession alternative. It is a suggestion that we must continue to defend the recognition and gratitude of art and the artists who produce it.