Emily Dickinson Quotes

Is Bliss then, such Abyss,I must not put my foot amissFor fear I spoil my shoe? I'd rather suit my footThan save my Boot --For yet to buy another Pairis possible,At any store -- But Bliss, is sold just once.The Patent lostNone buy it any more --

~ Emily Dickinson

Much Madness is Divinest Sense, to a Discerning Eye....

~ Emily Dickinson

I many times thought peace had come, When peace was far away; As wrecked men deem they sight the land At centre of the sea, And struggle slacker, but to prove, As hopelessly as I, How many the fictitious shores Before the harbor lie.

~ Emily Dickinson

Success is counted sweetest by those ne'er succeed.

~ Emily Dickinson

The worm doth woo the mortal, death claims a living bride, Night unto day is married, morn unto eventide, Earth a merry damsel, and heaven a knight so true,And Earth is quite coquettish, and beseemeth in vain to sue.

~ Emily Dickinson

I have no life but this, To lead it here; Nor any death, but lest Dispelled from there; Nor tie to earths to come, Nor action new, Except through this extent, The realm of you.

~ Emily Dickinson

Faith is a fine inventionWhen gentlemen can see,But microscopes are prudentIn an emergency.

~ Emily Dickinson

THERE is no frigate like a book/ To take us lands away...

~ Emily Dickinson

There is no Frigate like a book.

~ Emily Dickinson

Look back on Time, with kindly eyes -He doubtless did his best -How softly sinks that trembling sunIn Human Nature's West -

~ Emily Dickinson

I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.

~ Emily Dickinson

A precious, mouldering pleasure 't isTo meet an antique bookIn just the dress his century wore;A privilege, I think,His venerable hand to take,And warming in our own,A passage back, or two, to makeTo times when he was young.His quaint opinions to inspect,His knowledge to unfoldOn what concerns our mutual mind,The literature of old...

~ Emily Dickinson

We never know how high we areTill we are called to rise;And then, if we are true to plan,Our statures touch the skies.The heroism we reciteWould be a daily thing,Did not ourselves the cubits warpFor fear to be a king.

~ Emily Dickinson

A letter always seemed to me like immortality because it is the mind alone without corporeal friend.

~ Emily Dickinson

Bless God, he went as soldiers,His musket on his breast—Grant God, he charge the bravestOf all the martial blest!Please God, might I behold himIn epauletted white—I should not fear the foe then—I should not fear the fight!

~ Emily Dickinson

So bashful when I spied her!So pretty ― so ashamed!So hidden in her leafletsLest anybody find ―So breathless till I passed her ―So helpless when I turnedAnd bore her struggling, blushing,Her simple haunts beyond!For whom I robbed the Dingle ―For whom betrayed the Dell ―Many, will doubtless ask me,But I shall never tell!

~ Emily Dickinson

Not “Revelation” – tis – that waitsBut our unfurnished eyes –

~ Emily Dickinson

The Soul selects her own Society.

~ Emily Dickinson

THE soul should always stand ajar, That if the heaven inquire,He will not be obliged to wait, Or shy of troubling her.Depart, before the host has slid The bolt upon the door,To seek for the accomplished guest, -- Her visitor no more.

~ Emily Dickinson

Nature is a haunted house--but Art--is a house that tries to be haunted.

~ Emily Dickinson

Water is taught by thirst;Land, by the oceans passed;Transport, by throe;Peace, by its battles told;Love, by memorial mould;Birds, by the snow.

~ Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart from breaking,I shall not live in vain;If I can ease one life the aching,Or cool one pain,Or help one fainting robinUnto his nest again,I shall not live in vain.

~ Emily Dickinson

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,And Mourners to and froKept treading – treading – till it seemedThat Sense was breaking through – And when they all were seated,A Service, like a Drum – Kept beating – beating – till I thoughtMy Mind was going numb – And then I heard them lift a BoxAnd creak across my SoulWith those same Boots of Lead, again,Then Space – began to toll,As all the Heavens were a Bell,And Being, but an Ear,And I, and Silence, some strange RaceWrecked, solitary, here – And then a Plank in Reason, broke,And I dropped down, and down – And hit a World, at every plunge,And Finished knowing – then –

~ Emily Dickinson

and so I sing, as the Boy does by the Burying Ground – because I am afraid –

~ Emily Dickinson

Split the Lark—and you'll find the Music, Bulb after Bulb, in Silver rolled.

~ Emily Dickinson

Not with a club, the Heart is brokenNor with a Stone –A Whip so small you could not see itI've known

~ Emily Dickinson

I felt a Cleaving in my Mind—As if my Brain had split—I tried to match it—Seam by Seam—But could not make it fit.The thought behind, I strove to joinUnto the thought before—But Sequence ravelled out of SoundLike Balls—upon a Floor.

~ Emily Dickinson

Presentiment is that long shadow on the lawnIndicative that suns go down,The notice to the startled grassThat darkness is about to pass.

~ Emily Dickinson

We both believe, and disbelieve a hundred times an hour, which keeps believing nimble.

~ Emily Dickinson

The Poets light but Lamps-Themselves-go out-

~ Emily Dickinson

Faith slips - and laughs, and rallies

~ Emily Dickinson

And I, could I stand byAnd see you freeze,Without my right of frost, Death's privilege?

~ Emily Dickinson

Heart, we will forget him!You and I, to-night!You may forget the warmth he gave,I will forget the light.When you have done, pray tell me,That I my thoughts may dim;Haste! lest while you’re lagging,I may remember him!

~ Emily Dickinson

To lose what we never owned might seem an eccentric Bereavement but Presumption has its Affliction as actually as Claim --

~ Emily Dickinson

When Jesus tells us about his Father, we distrust him. When he shows us his Home, we turn away, but when he confides to us that he is 'acquainted with Grief', we listen, for that also is an Acquaintance of our own.

~ Emily Dickinson

I measure every Grief I meetWith narrow, probing, Eyes;I wonder if It weighs like Mine,Or has an Easier size.

~ Emily Dickinson

The possible's slow fuse is lit by the Imagination.

~ Emily Dickinson

We dream — it is good we are dreaming —It would hurt us — were we awake —But since it is playing — kill us,And we are playing — shriek —What harm? Men die — externally —It is a truth — of Blood —But we — are dying in Drama —And Drama — is never dead —Cautious — We jar each other —And either — open the eyes —Lest the Phantasm — prove the Mistake —And the livid SurpriseCool us to Shafts of Granite —With just an Age — and Name —And perhaps a phrase in Egyptian —It's prudenter — to dream —

~ Emily Dickinson

But it is growing damp and I must go in. Memory’s fog is rising.

~ Emily Dickinson

I HIDE myself within my flowerThat wearing on your breast,You, unsuspecting, wear me too—And angels know the rest.I hide myself within my flower,That, fading from your vase,You, unsuspecting, feel for meAlmost a loneliness...

~ Emily Dickinson