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Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning Quotes

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Famous Elizabeth Barrett Browning Quotes

“Men of science, osteologists And surgeons, beat some poets, in respect For nature,-count nought common or unclean, Spend raptures upon perfect specimens Of indurated veins, distorted joints, Or beautiful new cases of curved spine; While we, we are shocked at nature's falling off, We dare to shrink back from her warts and blains.”

MenBeautifulFallPerfectCommonCasesPoetHealthBeatsDareShockedVeinsShrinksJointsSurgeonsSpineRaptureFalling OffWarts
Book:Poetical works
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“It is not merely the likeness which is precious... but the association and the sense of nearness involved in the thing... the fact of the very shadow of the person lying there fixed forever! It is the very sanctification of portraits I think - and it is not at all monstrous in me to say that I would rather have such a memorial of one I dearly loved, than the noblest Artist's work ever produced.”

ThinkingLovePersonsFactsLyingArtistForeverInvolvedPhotographyShadowFixedAssociationPortraitsMemorialMonstrousSanctification
Book:Elizabeth Barrett to Miss Mitford: the unpublished letters of Elizabeth Barrett Barrett to Mary Russell Mitford
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“We all have known good critics, who have stamped out poet's hopes; Good statesmen, who pulled ruin on the state; Good patriots, who, for a theory, risked a cause; Good kings, who disemboweled for a tax; Good Popes, who brought all good to jeopardy; Good Christians, who sat still in easy-chairs; And damned the general world for standing up. Now, may the good God pardon all good men!”

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Author:Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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“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.”

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Book:Poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: From the Last London Edition
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“They say that God lives very high! But if you look above the pines You cannot see our God. And why? And if you dig down in the mines You never see Him in the gold, Though from Him all that's glory shines. God is so good, He wears a fold Of heaven and earth across His face - Like secrets kept, for love, untold. But still I feel that His embrace Slides down by thrills, through all things made, Through sight and sound of every place: As if my tender brother laid On my shut lids, her kisses' pressure, Half waking me at night; and said, "Who kissed through the dark, dear guesser?"”

IfsLifeFeelsLooksMadeSaidStillsEarthFacesNightHeavenSoundDarkSecretHalfMinesBrotherKissingGloryAll ThingsGoldSightPressureEmbraceShiningDearWakingFoldsSlidesHeaven And EarthGod LifeSight And Sound
Book:Poems of the Intellect and the Affections
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“The sweetest lives are those to duty wed, Whose deeds, both great and small Are close-knot strands of an unbroken thread There love ennobles all. The world may sound no trumpets, ring no bells The book of life the shining record tells. Thy love shall chant its own beatitudes After its own life-workings. A child's kiss Set on thy sighing lips shall make thee glad; A poor man served by thee shall make thee rich; A sick man helped by thee shall make thee strong; Thou shalt serve thyself by every sense, Of service which thou renderest.”

MenWorldLoveLifeMayChildrenBookStrongSoundPoorRichRecordsDutyKissingSickShiningLipsDeedsRingsGladTheeBellsThreadThyselfSweetestTrumpetsKnotsPoor ManStrandsUnbrokenSick ManBook Of Life
Author:Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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“The growing drama has outgrown such toys Of simulated stature, face, and speech: It also peradventure may outgrow The simulation of the painted scene, Boards, actors, prompters, gaslight, and costume, And take for a worthier stage the soul itself, Its shifting fancies and celestial lights, With all its grand orchestral silences To keep the pauses of its rhythmic sounds.”

MaySoulLightFacesActorsSoundSilenceGrowingStageDramaSceneSpeechBoardsFancyToysPausesCostumesShiftingCelestialStatureSimulation
Book:Aurora Leigh by Elizabeth Barret Browning
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“The Holy Night We sate among the stalls at Bethlehem; The dumb kine from their fodder turning them, Softened their horned faces To almost human gazes Toward the newly Born: The simple shepherds from the star-lit brooks Brought visionary looks, As yet in their astonied hearing rung The strange sweet angel-tongue: The magi of the East, in sandals worn, Knelt reverent, sweeping round, With long pale beards, their gifts upon the ground, The incense, myrrh, and gold These baby hands were impotent to hold: So let all earthlies and celestials wait Upon thy royal state. Sleep, sleep, my kingly One!”

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Author:Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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