Elizabeth Barrett Browning Quotes

Quick-loving hearts ... may quickly loathe.

I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you

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

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.

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

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

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

My patience has dreadful chilblains from standing so long on a monument.

Our Euripides the human,
With his droppings of warm tears,
and his touchings of things common
Till they rose to meet the spheres.

I am one who could have forgotten the plague, listening to Boccaccio's stories; and I am not ashamed of it.

In this abundant earth no doubt
Is little room for things worn out:
Disdain them, break them, throw them by!
And if before the days grew rough
We once were lov'd, us'd - well enough,
I think, we've far'd, my heart and I.

Alas, I have grieved so I am hard to love.
Yet love me-wilt thou? Open thine heart wide,
And fold within, the wet wings of thy dove.

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

The picture of helpless indolence she calls herself
sublimely helpless and impotent
I had done living I thought
Was ever life so like death before? My face was so close against the tombstones,
that there seemed no room for tears.