Who said “Written poetry is worth reading once, and then should be destroyed. Let the dead poets…”?

Verified

Antonin Artaud. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Theatre and Its Double (1938, translated 1958)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“Written poetry is worth reading once, and then should be destroyed. Let the dead poets make way for others. Then we might even come to see that it is our veneration for what has already been created, however beautiful and valid it may be, that petrifies us.”
VerifiedThe Theatre and Its Double (1938, translated 1958) · evidencePoetry and Poets

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Theatre and Its Double (1938, translated 1958).

APA

Artaud, A. (n.d.). Written poetry is worth reading once, and then should be destroyed. Let the dead poets make way for others. Then we might even come to see that it is our veneration for what has already been created, however beautiful and valid it may be, that petrifies us. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32736-written-poetry-is-worth-reading-once-and-then/

MLA

Artaud, Antonin. “Written poetry is worth reading once, and then should be destroyed. Let the dead poets make way for others. Then we might even come to see that it is our veneration for what has already been created, however beautiful and valid it may be, that petrifies us.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32736-written-poetry-is-worth-reading-once-and-then/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Artaud, Antonin. “Written poetry is worth reading once, and then should be destroyed. Let the dead poets make way for others. Then we might even come to see that it is our veneration for what has already been created, however beautiful and valid it may be, that petrifies us.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/32736-written-poetry-is-worth-reading-once-and-then/.