Top 262 Quotes & Sayings by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

You were made perfectly to be loved - and surely I have loved you, in the idea of you, my whole life long.

What is genius but the power of expressing a new individuality?

A woman is always younger than a man at equal years.

First time he kissed me, he but only kissed The fingers of this hand wherewith I write; And, ever since, it grew more clean and white.

How many desolate creatures on the earth have learnt the simple dues of fellowship and social comfort, in a hospital.

Since when was genius found respectable?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

But the child's sob curses deeper in the silence than the strong man in his wrath!

The Greeks said grandly in their tragic phrase, 'Let no one be called happy till his death;' to which I would add, 'Let no one, till his death, be called unhappy.'

Who so loves believes the impossible.

Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

If thou must love me, let it be for naught except for love's sake only.

If you desire faith, then you have faith enough.

For tis not in mere death that men die most.

God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.

God answers sharp and sudden on some prayers, And thrusts the thing we have prayed for in our face, A gauntlet with a gift in it.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.

Suddenly, as rare things will, it vanished.

He lives most life whoever breathes most air.

The beautiful seems right by force of beauty and the feeble wrong because of weakness.

He said true things, but called them by wrong names.

Girls blush, sometimes, because they are alive, half wishing they were dead to save the shame. The sudden blush devours them, neck and brow; They have drawn too near the fire of life, like gnats, and flare up bodily, wings and all. What then? Who's sorry for a gnat or girl?

And each man stands with his face in the light. Of his own drawn sword, ready to do what a hero can.

Light tomorrow with today!

At painful times, when composition is impossible and reading is not enough, grammars and dictionaries are excellent for distraction.

Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God: But only he who sees takes off his shoes.

What I do and what I dream include thee, as the wine must taste of its own grapes.

An ignorance of means may minister to greatness, but an ignorance of aims make it impossible to be great at all.

World's use is cold, world's love is vain, world's cruelty is bitter bane; but is not the fruit of pain.

With stammering lips and insufficient sound I strive and struggle to deliver right the music of my nature.

No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books.

truth outlives pain, as the soul does life.

Earth's crammed with Heaven.

I love you for the part of me that you bring out.

My sun sets to raise again.

The devil's most devilish when respectable.

Gaze up at the stars knowing that I see the same sky and wish the same sweet dreams.

A great man leaves clean work behind him, and requires no sweeper up of the chips.

Much of the possibility of being cheerful comes from the faculty of throwing oneself beyond oneself.

The world's male chivalry has perished out, but women are knights-errant to the last; and, if Cervantes had been greater still, he had made his Don a Donna.

Art is much, but love is more.

It was not the apple on the tree but the pair on the ground that caused the trouble in the garden of Eden.

The little cares that fretted me, I lost them yesterday Among the fields above the sea, Among the winds at play.

You're something between a dream and a miracle.

Whoever lives true life, will love true love.

Two human loves make one divine.

Never say No when the world says Aye.

And if God choose I shall but love thee better after death.

I heard an angel speak last night/And he said, "Write!"

I f thou must love me, let it be for nought Except for love's sake only. Do not say, I love her for her smile ... her look ... her way Of speaking gently ... for a trick of thought That falls in well with mine, and, certes, brought A sense of pleasant ease on such a day- For these things in themselves, Beloved, may Be changed, or change for thee-and love so wrought, May be unwrought so.

Why, what is to live? Not to eat and drink and breathe,—but to feel the life in you down all the fibres of being, passionately and joyfully.

True knowledge comes only through suffering.

What frightens me is that men are content with what is not life at all.

Love me sweet With all thou art Feeling, thinking, seeing; Love me in the Lightest part, Love me in full Being.

I love thee to the level of everyday's most quiet need, by sun and candle light...I love thee with the breath,smiles,t ears,of all my life.

I begin to think that none are so bold as the timid, when they are fairly roused.

The essence of all beauty, I call love.

Silence is the best response to a fool.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

If we tried To sink the past beneath our feet, be sure The future would not stand.