自幼天姿聰明,才(cai)氣(qi)橫溢(yi),勤奮(fen)好學(xue),善攻詩(shi)文。讀私塾時就出(chu)(chu)類拔(ba)萃,聲譽高揚,當(dang)時貴(gui)州巡撫(fu)郭子章,副史韓光(guang)曙都(dou)非常器重他(ta),結為(wei)詩(shi)友,彼此(ci)詩(shi)章附和,但僅孝取貢生,多次參加科舉考試都(dou)未(wei)被錄取。只任過縣學(xue)教諭,三年后謨職作萬里游。曾(ceng)得(de)"后七子"之一(yi)的吳(wu)國倫賞識,并受其指導(dao)。出(chu)(chu)游楚、浙、蘇、閩時,與諸名流李維楨、王樨登(deng)、湯(tang)顯(xian)祖,何無咎等,寫了不少好詩(shi),膾炙(zhi)人(ren)口,成為(wei)當(dang)時"詩(shi)詞旗鼓",名噪社會,使荊(jing)楚吳(wu)越詩(shi)人(ren)刮目相看(kan),"皆知黔有(you)生君采"。盛贊(zan)他(ta)是"天下才(cai)子"。
一生詩(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)作(zuo)頗豐,著(zhu)有《雪鴻堂(tang)詩(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)集》和(he)《遠條草堂(tang)》,共收(shou)詩(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)千余首,為黔(qian)中(zhong)之(zhi)冠。莫友芝認(ren)為謝三(san)秀(xiu)的詩(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)“清雄宕逸(yi),風格雋遠”。禮(li)部尚書李(li)維楨在《雪鴻堂(tang)詩(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)序》中(zhong)贊揚他說:“ 詩(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)家諸體無不(bu)精(jing)當,詩(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)品諸妙無不(bu)備具(ju)。”并(bing)稱贊他的詩(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)是“治世(shi)遺音”。《黔(qian)詩(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)紀略》收(shou)錄了(le)他188首詩(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)。