Who said “Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.”?

Verified

T. S. Eliot. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"Dante" (1929), in Selected Essays (1932), p. 238

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "Dante" (1929), in Selected Essays (1932), p. 238.

APA

Eliot, T. S. (n.d.). Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/10384-genuine-poetry-can-communicate-before-it-is-understood/

MLA

Eliot, T. S. “Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/10384-genuine-poetry-can-communicate-before-it-is-understood/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Eliot, T. S. “Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/10384-genuine-poetry-can-communicate-before-it-is-understood/.