Elizabeth Barrett Browning Quotes

Thou large-brain'd woman and large-hearted man.

But I love you, sir: And when a woman says she loves a man, The man must hear her, though he love her not.

She lived, we'll say, A harmless life, she called a virtuous life, A quiet life, which was not life at all (But that she had not lived enough to know)

Every age, Through being beheld too close, is ill-discerned By those who have not lived past it.

Of writing many books there is no end.

The English have a scornful insular way Of calling the French light.

Books succeed; and lives fail.

Like to write? Of course, of course I do. I seem to live while I write - it is life, for me.

Alas, I have grieved so I am hard to love.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breadth and heightMy soul can reach

Earth's crammed with heaven...But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.

Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God.

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

Better farPursue a frivolous trade by serious means, Than a sublime art frivolously.

Good aims not always make good books.

It is rather whenWe gloriously forget ourselves, and plungeSoul-forward, headlong, into a book's profound, Impassioned for its beauty and salt of truth--'Tis then we get the right good from a book.

And I breathe large at home. I drop my cloak, Unclasp my girdle, loose the band that tiesMy hair...now could I but unloose my soul!We are sepulchred alive in this close world, And want more room.

The wisest word man reaches is the humblest he can speak.

And yet, because I love thee, I obtainFrom that same love this vindicating grace, To live on still in love, and yet in vain

The heart doth recognise thee, Alone, alone! The heart doth smell thee sweet, Doth view thee fair, doth judge thee most complete, —-Though seeing now those changes that disguise thee.

You have touched me more profoundly than I thought even you could have touched me - my heart was full when you came here today. Henceforward I am yours for everything.

With my lost saints - I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life! - and if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

Earth changes but thy soul and God stand sure.

Just for a handful of silver he left us Just for a ribbon to stick in his coat.

Oh to be in England Now that April's there.

Good to forgive Best to forget.

God's in His Heaven - All's right with the world!

Open my heart and you will see Graved inside of it "Italy."

Love doesn't make the world go round Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

Oh to be in England Now that April's there.

Let no one 'til his death be called unhappy. Measure not the work Until the day's out and the labor done: Then bring your gauges.

I give the fight up let there be an end A privacy an obscure nook for me I want to be forgotten even by God.

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

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't.

Best be yourself imperial plain and true!

A woman's always younger than a man of equal years.

Until they are of the age to use the brain.

The year's at the Spring And day's at the morn Morning's at seven The hillside's dew-pearled The lark's on the wing The snail's on the thorn: God's in his Heaven - All's right with the world!

And trade is art, and art's philosophy, In Paris.

Who so loves believes the impossible.

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

For tis not in mere death that men die most.