Emily Dickinson Quotes

Powerful Emily Dickinson for Daily Growth

About Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), an American poet widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language, spent her prolific yet secluded life in Amherst, Massachusetts. Born on December 10, 1830, into a prominent family, she was the youngest of three children and grew up in a household that valued education. Although Emily never attended college, she had access to an extensive personal library and received a solid home schooling from her mother, Eliza, and older brother Austin. Dickinson's unique poetic voice began to emerge around her late teens, inspired by Puritan theology, nature, and her own introspective thoughts on life, death, love, and God. Her early influences included family friends such as Reverend Charles Wadsworth who sparked an enduring correspondence that deepened her religious and romantic musings. The reclusive aspect of Dickinson's life began around the age of 16 when she withdrew from social engagements, eventually becoming a near-hermit in her later years. Despite this seclusion, she wrote vigorously, producing over 1700 poems during her lifetime—most of which were never published. In 1855, Emily started numbering and enclosing her poems in envelopes, creating her "fascicles." Her family discovered these posthumously, ultimately leading to the publication of her works in the 1890s. Notable among her major works include "I'm Nobody! Who are you?", "Because I could not stop for Death—", and "Hope is the thing with feathers." Emily Dickinson passed away on May 15, 1886, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy of deeply emotional, spiritually resonant, and universally relatable poetry. Her enigmatic yet profound writings continue to captivate audiences worldwide today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Hope is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops at all."

Emily Dickinson's quote suggests that hope, like a bird, dwells within us as an intangible yet enduring force. It is not tied to any specific words or explanations but expresses itself through actions or feelings, continually present and incessant. The idea is that hope is persistent and ever-present, providing solace and strength during difficult times without requiring explicit verbal expression.


"I dwell in Possibility - He who would be a Pioneer into the uncharted Mind - Must have Contempt for Contemporaneity."

This Emily Dickinson quote emphasizes the concept of exploring one's inner self, delving deep into the unknown territories of the mind. The term "Possibility" symbolizes the limitless potential and imagination that lies within us. The pioneer referred to is a person who embarks on this internal journey, disregarding societal expectations or conventions, often represented by "Contemporaneity". In essence, Dickinson encourages introspection, original thought, and a willingness to break free from the norms of society in order to truly understand oneself.


"To make a Daffodil excited is not easy – They continue to sleep through snow and Sleet and some measure of Sorrow."

This quote suggests that daffodils, like many natural elements, are resilient and persistent in the face of adversity. They endure harsh weather conditions such as snow and sleet without being disturbed or excited. Similarly, humans may experience "some measure of Sorrow" but continue to persevere, drawing inspiration from nature's ability to withstand hardships and bloom regardless. The quote encourages us to embrace our own resilience in the face of life's challenges, just as the daffodils endure and eventually bring beauty to the world.


"I must have a Prose or two - A Dish of Cursancy, a Recipe of Life."

This quote by Emily Dickinson expresses her need for both poetry (Prose) and prose (a reference to everyday speech), suggesting that she values both forms of expression. The "Dish of Cursancy" can be interpreted as a metaphor for life's challenges or experiences, which she seems to view as necessary components of living. The "Recipe of Life" indicates her desire to understand the complexities and secrets of existence itself, perhaps suggesting that she seeks wisdom and meaning through her writing and experiences. Overall, this quote highlights Dickinson's passion for exploration and self-discovery, using food-related metaphors to convey the essence of life and creativity.


"The Brain is wider than the Sky – For, put them side by side, The one the other will contain With ease, and you beside – The Brain is deeper than the sea – For, hold me out a Box, I'll cram it with a Seven-Sea – And all but the smallest Shells on it will dwell – A myriad Creatures – crouch together – And all the Waters of the Ocean – Blue and bright – Will flow into the valleys round - And soft as Wind – will fill the Brain."

Emily Dickinson's quote suggests that human understanding, represented by the brain, is vast and limitless, surpassing even the infinite expanse of the sky or the depths of the sea. She uses vivid imagery to convey that just as one can place the sky within the confines of a brain, and the ocean within a box, our minds have the capacity to hold and comprehend incomprehensibly large concepts. Furthermore, she underscores that like the ocean, the mind is teeming with life and ideas, each idea contributing to its richness, much like various creatures dwell within the shells on the ocean floor.


I am growing handsome very fast indeed! I expect I shall be the belle of Amherst when I reach my 17th year. I don't doubt that I shall have perfect crowds of admirers at that age. Then how I shall delight to make them await my bidding, and with what delight shall I witness their suspense while I make my final decision.

- Emily Dickinson

Handsome, Perfect, Very, Final

Finite to fail, but infinite to venture.

- Emily Dickinson

Fail, Venture, Infinite, Finite

There is no Frigate like a book to take us lands away nor any coursers like a page of prancing Poetry.

- Emily Dickinson

Book, Away, Like, Prancing

He ate and drank the precious Words, his Spirit grew robust; He knew no more that he was poor, nor that his frame was Dust.

- Emily Dickinson

Precious, More, Robust, Drank

Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.

- Emily Dickinson

Love, Sympathy, Unable, Love Is

Because I could not stop for death, He kindly stopped for me; The carriage held but just ourselves and immortality.

- Emily Dickinson

Death, Immortality, Stopped, Kindly

Love is anterior to life, posterior to death, initial of creation, and the exponent of breath.

- Emily Dickinson

Love, Death, Breath, Love Is

I argue thee that love is life. And life hath immortality.

- Emily Dickinson

Love, Life, Immortality, Love Is

To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.

- Emily Dickinson

Life, Leaves, Else, Little Time

To love is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.

- Emily Dickinson

Love, Leaves, Else, Little Time

Nature is our eldest mother; she will do no harm.

- Emily Dickinson

Mother, She, Harm, Eldest

Success is counted sweetest by those who never succeed.

- Emily Dickinson

Success, Never, Success Is, Counted

If fame belonged to me, I could not escape her; if she did not, the longest day would pass me on the chase, and the approbation of my dog would forsake me then. My barefoot rank is better.

- Emily Dickinson

Could, Pass, Longest, Forsake

A wounded deer leaps the highest.

- Emily Dickinson

Deer, Wounded, Highest, Leaps

Not knowing when the dawn will come I open every door.

- Emily Dickinson

Door, Knowing, Will, Not Knowing

Where thou art, that is home.

- Emily Dickinson

Home, Art, Thou Art, Thou

God is not so wary as we, else He would give us no friends, lest we forget Him! The charms of the heaven in the bush are superseded, I fear, by the heaven in the hand, occasionally.

- Emily Dickinson

Give, Wary, Bush, Charms

How strange that nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude!

- Emily Dickinson

Nature, How, Knock, Intrude

After great pain, a formal feeling comes. The Nerves sit ceremonious, like tombs.

- Emily Dickinson

Pain, Nerves, Formal, Tombs

Tell the truth, but tell it slant.

- Emily Dickinson

Truth, Tell, Slant

I dwell in possibility.

- Emily Dickinson

Inspirational, Dwell, Possibility

I have a brother and sister; my mother does not care for thought, and father, too busy with his briefs to notice what we do. He buys me many books, but begs me not to read them, because he fears they joggle the mind.

- Emily Dickinson

Father, Thought, Buys, Notice

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee, One clover, and a bee, And revery. The revery alone will do, If bees are few.

- Emily Dickinson

Nature, Bee, Will, Clover

Truth is so rare that it is delightful to tell it.

- Emily Dickinson

Truth, Tell, Rare, Delightful

Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned.

- Emily Dickinson

Luck, Chance, Earned, Toil

We were never intimate mother and children while she was our mother - but... when she became our child, the affection came.

- Emily Dickinson

Became, Intimate, While, Affection

People need hard times and oppression to develop psychic muscles.

- Emily Dickinson

Oppression, Muscles, Times, Psychic

I had no portrait, now, but am small, like the wren; and my hair is bold, like the chestnut bur; and my eyes, like the sherry in the glass, that the guest leaves.

- Emily Dickinson

Small, Glass, Like, Portrait

I do not like the man who squanders life for fame; give me the man who living makes a name.

- Emily Dickinson

Famous, Living, Give, Give Me

It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.

- Emily Dickinson

Better, Hammer, Than, Anvil

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.