It takes most men five years to recover from a college education, and to learn that poetry is as vital to thinking as knowledge.

The quote by Brooks Atkinson, "It takes most men five years to recover from a college education, and to learn that poetry is as vital to thinking as knowledge," reflects on the limits of traditional education in fostering holistic intellectual growth. Atkinson suggests that formal schooling often emphasizes rote learning or accumulation of knowledge, while neglecting the cultivation of imagination, creativity, and critical reflection, qualities nurtured by poetry and the arts.

By stating that it takes time to "recover," Atkinson highlights that true intellectual maturity involves recognizing the value of poetry and other forms of creative expression as essential to thinking. He implies that education should not only provide factual knowledge but also cultivate the ability to interpret, feel, and imagine—skills that are indispensable for deeper comprehension and innovative reasoning.

The origin of this quote comes from Atkinson’s career as an American journalist and theater critic, where he often examined the interplay between culture, education, and society. His reflections emphasize the importance of balancing technical or factual learning with artistic and humanistic insights, recognizing that both are critical for developing well-rounded thinkers.

Ultimately, Atkinson’s statement underscores that poetry and creative expression are as integral to intellectual development as knowledge itself. It conveys that education should foster both reason and imagination, reminding us that the most profound thinking emerges from a combination of analytical skills and the human capacity for reflection and empathy.