Quotes from Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Every wish Is like a prayer--with God.

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.

And I smiled to think God's greatness flowed around our incompleteness; Round our restlessness, His rest.

When God helps all the workers for His world, The singers shall have help of Him, not last.

God Himself is the best Poet, And the Real is His song.

The tyrant should take heed to what he doth, Since every victim-carrion turns to use, And drives a chariot, like a god made wroth, Against each piled injustice.

So mothers have God's license to be missed.

And lips say "God be pitiful," Who ne'er said "God be praised."

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

Or from Browning some "Pomegranate," which if cut deep down the middle Shows a heart within blood-tinctured, of a veined humanity.

We can't separate our humanity from our poetry.

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

The flower-girl's prayer to buy roses and pinks, held out in the smoke, like stars by day.

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.

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

You're something between a dream and a miracle.

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

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

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

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

Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.

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

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

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.