Luo's poetry was widely read and cherished, but he was unsuccessful in life; having failed the imperial examination 10 times, he was penniless until the warlord and Wuyue founder Qian Liu gave him official posts in his hometown Hang Prefecture.
A famous anecdote demonstrates his ugliness: grand councilor Zheng Tian had a young daughter who enjoyed literature, and Luo Yin's poems which she frequently read out loud were her favorite readings.
One day, he invited Luo to his residence, and his daughter took a peek at the guest from behind the curtains.
Penniless and frustrated, he later became an assistant to Qian Liu, but never shed his arrogant ways.
Luo Yin is best known for his plain spoken poetry and satiric wit.