Elizabeth Barrett Browning Love Quotes and Sayings

Elizabeth Barrett Browning Love Quotes and Sayings

#1 Sonnets from the Portuguese VI

1. What I do
And what I dream include thee, as the wine
Must taste of its own grapes.

#2 Sonnets from the Portuguese XIV

2. If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love’s sake only.

#3 A Woman’s Shortcomings

3. Unless you can muse in a crowd all day
On the absent face that fixed you;
Unless you can love, as the angels may,
With the breadth of heaven betwixt you;
Unless you can dream that his faith is fast,
Through behoving and unbehoving;
Unless you can die when the dream is past —
Oh, never call it loving!

#4-5 First Book, AURORA LEIGH [S]

4. Alas, a mother never is afraid
Of speaking angrily to any child,
Since love, she knows, is justified of love.

5. Whoever lives true life, will love true love.

#6 Fifth Book, AURORA LEIGH [S]

6. Not so; Pygmalion loved,–and whoso loves
Believes the impossible.

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Excerpt from Wikipedia: Elizabeth Barrett Browning (March 6, 1806 – June 29, 1861) was one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era. Her poetry was widely popular in both England and the United States during her lifetime. Browning published many poems in her lifetime, and many more were published by her husband after her death.
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Sayings by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

#1 The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Complete in One Volume, James Miller, 1870

1. An ignorance of means may minister to greatness, but an ignorance of aims makes it impossible to be great at all.

#2 The Barretts at Hope End: The Early Diary of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, J. Murray, 1974

2. …at painful times, when composition is impossible and reading not enough, grammars and dictionaries are excellent for distraction.

#3 The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett: 1845-1846, Volume 2, Smith, Elder, 1898

3. How I thank for your letter, ever beloved. You were made perfectly to be loved—and surely I have loved you, in the idea of you, my whole life long.

#4 Fifth Book, AURORA LEIGH [S]

4. The Greeks said grandly in their tragic phrase,
‘Let no one be called happy till his death.’
To which I add,–Let no one till his death
Be called unhappy. Measure not the work
Until the day’s out and the labour done;
Then bring your gauges.
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Sonnet XLIII by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach,
when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, – I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! – and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.