Quote collection
257 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"The man, most man, Works best for men, and, if most men indeed, He gets his manhood plainest from his soul: While, obviously, this stringent soul itself Obeys our old rules of development; The Spirit ever witnessing in ours, And Love, the soul of soul, within the soul, Evolving it sublimely."
"And lilies are still lilies, pulled By smutty hands, though spotted from their white."
"Some people always sigh in thanking God."
"Do ye hear the children weeping, O my brothers?"
"Gaze up at the stars knowing that I see the same sky and wish the same sweet dreams."
"A woman cannot do the thing she ought, which means whatever perfect thing she can, in life, in art, in science, but she fears to let the perfect action take her part and rest there: she must prove what she can do before she does it, -- prate of woman's rights, of woman's mission, woman's function, till the men (who are prating, too, on their side) cry, A woman's function plainly is... to talk. Poor souls, they are very reasonably vexed!"
"And each man stands with his face in the light. Of his own drawn sword, ready to do what a hero can."
"That headlong ivy! not a leaf will grow But thinking of a wreath, . . . I like such ivy; bold to leap a height 'Twas strong to climb! as good to grow on graves As twist about a thyrsus; pretty too (And that's not ill) when twisted round a comb."
"Love me sweet With all thou art Feeling, thinking, seeing; Love me in the Lightest part, Love me in full Being."
"He lives most life whoever breathes most air."
"Who so loves believes the impossible."
"All actual heroes are essential men, And all men possible heroes."
"Of all the thoughts of God that are Borne inward unto souls afar, Along the Psalmist's music deep, Now tell me if that any is. For gift or grace, surpassing this-- He giveth His beloved sleep."
"Very whitely still The lilies of our lives may reassure Their blossoms from their roots, accessible Alone to heavenly dews that drop not fewer; Growing straight out of man's reach, on the hill. God only, who made us rich, can make us poor."
"Guess now who holds thee?'--'Death,' I said. But, there, The silver answer rang, . . . 'Not Death, but Love."
"This race is never grateful: from the first, One fills their cup at supper with pure wine, Which back they give at cross-time on a sponge, In bitter vinegar."
"An ignorance of means may minister to greatness, but an ignorance of aims make it impossible to be great at all."
"A great acacia, with its slender trunk And overpoise of multitudinous leaves. (In which a hundred fields might spill their dew And intense verdure, yet find room enough) Stood reconciling all the place with green."
"Every wish Is like a prayer--with God."
"I wish I were the lily's leaf To fade upon that bosom warm, Content to wither, pale and brief, The trophy of thy paler form."