I have always been captivated by Emily Dickinson’s ability to capture the essence of human experience with her words. Her poems and letters reveal profound insights into life’s complexities, and her voice remains a unique fixture in American literature.
While many countries boast literary giants like Shakespeare or Austen, the United States finds a remarkable presence in Dickinson. She lived a relatively quiet life but articulated thoughts and feelings that continue to resonate deeply.
Her work is a testament to the power of language and the impact it can have over generations. Among her writings, certain lines and reflections stand out, embodying her philosophical outlook and emotional depth. Her most celebrated poems and letters encapsulate timeless themes like hope, love, and mortality, making her contributions invaluable to both literature and the exploration of human emotions.
Quotes from Emily Dickinson’s Poems
1. Stopped by Death
In this poem, Death is kind and stops for me, taking a ride in a carriage with the sole company of eternity. It speaks to the inevitability of death and the gentle passage from life to an endless existence.
2. Farewell Represents Heaven and Hell
This quotation reflects on the pain of parting. It’s likened to both heaven and hell, alluding to the emotional extremes that goodbyes can bring.
3. Choosing a Meaningful Life Over Fame
This line critiques those who waste their lives chasing fame. It values those who live wisely and leave a lasting legacy through their actions.
4. Hard Work Over Luck
The idea here is that fortune comes from hard work, and luck is the result of effort. It emphasizes that success is earned through dedication.
5. Calmness After Suffering
The poem describes how, after experiencing deep pain, there is a sense of formality and numbness, much like a solemn ceremony, suggesting how people cope with intense emotions.
6. Friendship and Immortal Love
In these lines, friends are my treasure, and the connection between love, life, and eternity is highlighted. It suggests that love gives life its true meaning and connects to the idea of living forever through relationships.
7. The Power of Words
A person nourishes their soul with words, growing richer in spirit. It’s about how literature and language can lift the spirit and offer strength, regardless of material wealth.
8. Embracing Anonymity
By declaring oneself as “Nobody,” I invite the reader to consider the value of anonymity and the freedom it brings, questioning societal norms that prioritize recognition.
9. Strength in Vulnerability
Here, a wounded deer gains energy, jumping higher than before. It shows that being hurt can lead to unexpected strength and resilience.
10. Truth Told Wisely
The poem advises presenting the truth indirectly. The idea is that subtlety can sometimes convey deeper truths more effectively.
11. Mind’s Limitless Reach
This passage compares the vastness of the mind to the sky, underscoring the infinite possibilities of human thought.
12. Living in the Present
The statement “Forever is composed of nows” emphasizes that eternity is made up of present moments, encouraging living fully in the present.
13. Welcoming Each New Day
Not knowing the time of dawn, I choose to open all doors. This reflects a readiness to embrace new beginnings and the mystery of the future.
14. Early Morning Adventure
In this poem, I take my dog and venture to the sea, encountering imagined sea creatures. It captures a moment of imagination and exploration in the natural world.
15. The True Value of Success
Success feels sweetest to those who haven’t experienced it, suggesting that appreciation often comes from the struggle and longing for achievement.
16. Hope’s Eternal Song
Hope is portrayed as a bird that continuously sings from within the soul, offering resilience and inspiration without ever taking a break.
17. The Instability of Fame
Fame is described as inconsistent and changeable, highlighting its unpredictable and unreliable nature.
18. Difficult Anticipation
The line explores the tension between anticipating an event and facing its arrival, revealing a struggle with patience and acceptance.
19. Moon’s Golden Glow
The moon, once a sliver of gold, now shines brightly over the world. This imagery reflects the beauty and change in familiar natural phenomena.
20. Earth Filled with Divine Essence
This line suggests that the world around us is brimming with heavenly qualities, hinting at the presence of the divine in everyday life.
21. Personal Experience of Grief
I measure my sorrow against others, pondering if theirs compares, suggesting that grief is a deeply personal, yet universally shared, experience.
22. Earth as a Joyful Maiden
The earth is depicted as a joyful girl, while heaven is her true knight, implying a harmonious and romantic connection between the two realms.
23. The Duality of Loneliness
There may be greater solitude without the company of loneliness itself, illustrating how solitude can feel more intense in its absence.
24. Hidden Heartbreak
Heartbreak isn’t caused by visible weapons but by subtle forces. This points to the quiet, sometimes unseen ways in which people experience pain.
25. Passionate Evenings
Wild and exciting nights are imagined as luxurious when shared with a loved one, expressing a desire for intimate and exhilarating companionship.
26. Observing Nature’s Scenes
A bird comes down a path, unnoticed, capturing and eating a worm. This depicts the simple and raw cycles of nature and being a passive observer.
27. Worship in Nature
Some attend church, but I find worship at home, with a bird as the choir and nature as my cathedral, valuing personal spirituality over formal practices.
28. Words Begin to Live
A word, upon being spoken, starts its life, countering the idea that words lose significance once uttered and suggesting their enduring power.
29. Life’s Unexpected Endings
Reflecting on life’s unexpected closures, I’m left wondering if immortality will bring about more closures, capturing the unpredictability of life.
30. Sweetness in Life’s Fleeting Nature
Life’s appeal comes from its uniqueness and the understanding that each moment won’t return, encouraging a deep appreciation for the present.
31. Eternal Love
Loving someone makes them unable to truly die, as love grants a form of immortality, emphasizing enduring connections even beyond life.
32. Numbness from Nearby Death
Noticing death in a neighboring house, I perceive a sense of numbness that permeates, hinting at the pervasive effects of death on surroundings.
Emily Dickinson: Quotations from Correspondence
33. Some Believe Words Die When Spoken; I Think They Begin Their Life
In a note to her friend Elizabeth Holland, Emily Dickinson shares a thought that words gain life once they’re spoken. She likens a book to a reflection of the soul, with each page akin to a heartbeat.
34. A Morning Without You Feels Like a Faded Dawn
Expressing her feelings to Elizabeth Holland, Emily captures the emptiness of a daybreak experienced in the absence of a dear one.
35. Telling the Truth Brings Delight, for It Is Rare
In her communication with Thomas Higginson, Emily finds pleasure in truth-telling because genuine truth is uncommon.
36. Living Is So Astonishing That It Leaves Little Room for Anything Else
In another message to Higginson, she reflects on how surprising life is, noting it offers scant time for other pursuits.
37. True Poetry Makes My Body Cold and My Mind Feel Open
To Thomas Higginson, Emily describes her idea of poetry as a force that physically chills her or makes her mind feel uncovered, questioning if there could be other definitions.
38. Death Is Like a Stormy Night Leading to an Unfamiliar Path
In a letter to Perez Cowan, she compares dying to an adventurous night and a new journey.
39. Choosing to Be the Hammer Over the Anvil Is Preferred
In a letter to a friend, Emily expresses her opinion on strength. She states that it is favorable to take the active role of the hammer rather than the passive one of the anvil.