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Stevie Smith Quotes

Powerful Stevie Smith for Daily Growth

About Stevie Smith

Stevie Smith (1902-1971), born Florence Margaret Smith in Hull, England, was an intriguingly unique and unconventional poet, novelist, playwright, and artist. She is best known for her distinctive style that blended surrealism, fantasy, and satire. Smith's childhood was marked by a deep sense of loneliness due to her eccentric nature and introverted disposition. Her mother, Mary Smith, encouraged her creative aspirations, which helped shape her into the extraordinary artist she became. Stevie left school at 15 with no qualifications but continued her self-education through voracious reading, delving into works by authors such as Emily Dickinson and Dante Alighieri. Her first collection of poetry, "A Good Time Was Had by All," was published in 1937, but it wasn't until the publication of "Novel on Yellow Paper" in 1945 that she gained widespread recognition. This novel, told from the perspective of a fictional character named Vernon, embodied Smith's characteristic blend of humor and melancholy. Throughout her career, Smith produced several notable works, including the poetry collections "Over the Frontier" (1942) and "The Hands of Orlac" (1963), as well as plays such as "Mother Earth" (1958) and "The Fan-Tan Lady" (1960). Her final collection, "Not Waving But Drowning," published posthumously in 1972, includes her most famous poem of the same title. Stevie Smith's life and work were deeply influenced by her introspective nature, her unconventional perspective on life, and her deep appreciation for literature. Her unique voice continues to resonate with readers today, making her an enduring figure in British poetry.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"For I am a man of letters and therein lies my secret sorrow."

This quote suggests that the speaker, who is a "man of letters" (a writer or scholar), experiences a private sadness or melancholy that is intrinsic to their profession. The act of writing, which they find fulfilling, also brings them sorrow because it demands introspection, emotional investment, and the expression of personal thoughts and feelings. This secret sorrow may stem from the vulnerability and exposure inherent in sharing one's work, or perhaps from the solitude and isolation often associated with literary pursuits.

"First the Blossom; then the Burning; now the Wisp."

This quote by Stevie Smith encapsulates the progression of life, love, or any creative endeavor from its initial promise (the blossom), through its passionate and intense phase (the burning), to its final stage where it fades away but leaves a memory behind (the wisp). It's a poetic reflection on impermanence and the cycle of existence.

"Life is very like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get."

This quote by Stevie Smith emphasizes that life's unpredictability mirrors the mystery found within a box of chocolates – each piece can be different in flavor, size, or quality, much like our experiences, relationships, and opportunities in life. The message underscores the importance of embracing the unexpected as we journey through life.

"I have been to many waters, but these are mine."

This quote suggests a deep personal connection and belonging to specific experiences or places in life, even though the individual may have encountered multiple instances. It implies that despite traveling through various stages, encounters, or environments, there remain certain moments, memories, or locales that carry a unique significance, resonance, or sense of home for the speaker. Essentially, it's about finding your own identity and meaning within life's diverse tapestry.

"Not waving but drowning."

The quote "Not waving but drowning" by Stevie Smith is a powerful metaphor for emotional suffering that may not be easily perceived or understood from the outside. It implies that someone who appears to be carefree, waving at others, could actually be struggling deeply beneath the surface, unable to cry out for help due to societal expectations or personal pride - drowning silently and invisibly. The phrase poignantly reveals the stark contrast between a person's external facade of being okay and their internal turmoil, encouraging empathy and understanding towards those who may seem fine but are truly suffering.

I may be smelly and I may be old, Rough in my pebbles, reedy in my pools, But where my fish float by I bless their swimming, And I like the people to bathe in me especially women.

- Stevie Smith

Rough, Bathe, Smelly, Pools

This Englishwoman is so refined, She has no bosom and no behind.

- Stevie Smith

She, Behind, Bosom, Refined

I'm alive today, therefore I'm just as much a part of our time as everybody else. The times will just have to enlarge themselves to make room for me, won't they, and for everybody else.

- Stevie Smith

Alive, Will, Everybody, Just As Much

Nobody heard him, the dead man, But still he lay moaning. I was much further out than you thought, and not waving but drowning. I was much too far out all my life, And not waving but drowning.

- Stevie Smith

My Life, Thought, Moaning, All My Life

All poetry has to do is to make a strong communication. All the poet has to do is listen. The poet is not an important fellow. There will also be another poet.

- Stevie Smith

Strong, Important, Will, Fellow

I don't think Auden liked my poetry very much, he's very Anglican.

- Stevie Smith

Think, Very, He, Anglican

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