Quotes from Robert Browning

The fight must so have seemed in that fell cirque, What penned them there, with all the plain to choose? No footprint leading to that horrid mews, None out of it. Mad brewage set to work Their brains, no doubt, like galley-slaves the Turk Pits for his pastime, Christians against Jews.

The aim, if reached or not, makes great the life: Try to be Shakespeare, leave the rest to fate!

dark, difficult enough the human sphere, yet eyes grow sharp by use

Man's reach much exceed his grasp, or what is heaven for?

For, looking up, aware I somehow grew, 'Spite of the dusk, the plain had given place All round to mountains - with such name to grace Mere ugly heights and heaps now stolen in view. How thus they had surprised me - solve it, you! How to get from them was no clearer case.

But to have seen thee, and to die so soon!

That is the doctrine, simple, ancient, true; Such is life's trial, as old earth smiles and knows. If you loved only what were worth your love, Love were clear gain, and wholly well for you: Make the low nature better by your throes! Give earth yourself, go up for gain above!

I saw no use in the past: only a scene Of degradation, ugliness, and tears; The record of disgraces best forgotten;

And what proportion love should hold with power In his right constitution: love preceding Power—with much power always much more love;

Who knows most, doubts most.

The moment eternal - just that and no more - When ecstasy's utmost we clutch at the core While cheeks burn, arms open, eyes shut, and lips meet!

What of soul was left, I wonder, when the kissing had to stop?

You should not take a fellow eight years old and make him swear to never kiss the girls.

In heaven I yearn for knowledge, account all else inanity; On earth I confess an itch for the praise of fools - that's vanity

There are three ways of learning golf: by study, which is the most wearisome; by imitation, which is the most fallacious; and by experience, which is the most bitter.

Why stay on the earth except to grow.

But what if I fail of my purpose here? It is but to keep the nerves at strain, to dry one's eyes and laugh at a fall, and, baffled, get up and begin again.

Love is energy of life.

What of soul was left, I wonder, when the kissing had to stop?

There are three ways of learning golf: by study, which is the most wearisome; by imitation, which is the most fallacious; and by experience, which is the most bitter.

The trouble that most of us find with the modern matched sets of clubs is that they don't really seem to know any more about the game than the old ones did.

I would have rummaged, ransacked at the word; Those old odd corners of an empty heart; For remnants of dim love the long disused, And dusty crumbling of romance!

Truth is within ourselves.

Inscribe all human effort with one word, Artistry's haunting curse, the Incomplete!