"Journalism wishes to tell what it is that has happened everywhere as though the same things had happened for every man. Poetry wishes to say what it is like for any man to be himself in the presence of a particular occurrence as though only he were alone there"

Archibald MacLeish's quote draws a brilliant difference between the roles of journalism and poetry in representing human experiences. His contrast highlights the differing methods and goals these two forms of expression take when telling events and emotions.

Journalism, according to MacLeish, looks for to offer an unbiased account of occasions. Its goal is to notify the general public by offering an extensive, and ideally objective, recount of happenings. Journalism go for universality in its reporting; it provides events as if they hold the exact same significance to everybody, regardless of their personal experiences or perspectives. This approach ventures to develop a shared understanding of world occasions, developing a typical truth where the truths remain consistent regardless of the private consuming the details. In essence, journalism efforts to catch the external world in a manner that can be analyzed and comprehended broadly, promoting a collective awareness.

On the other hand, poetry looks into the subjective, personal dimension of experience. MacLeish suggests that poetry's objective is to reveal the special, internal response of a specific to a particular event. Poetry is less worried with the accurate stating of events and more interested in exploring the emotional and mental impact these moments have on a person. It seeks to convey the intricacies of being, as though everyone stands uniquely before the occasion, alone in their interpretation and feelings. Poetry becomes a method of exploring the depths of individuality, recording the myriad of individual facts that emerge in action to the world's happenings.

Through this comparison, MacLeish highlights the complementary nature of journalism and poetry. While journalism uses a broad, shared narrative, poetry provides intimate peeks into individual truths. Together, they improve our understanding of the world by detailing both its external truths and internal resonances.