Emily Dickinson

Poetry

Modern influential 121 sayings

Sayings by Emily Dickinson

Forever — is composed of Nows —

c. 1862 — Poem 624
Humorous Unverifiable

A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day.

c. 1872 — Poem 1212
Humorous Unverifiable

Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell.

c. 1879 — Letter to Susan Huntington Gilbert Dickinson
Humorous Unverifiable

Parting is all we know of heaven, And all we need of hell.

c. 1860 — Poem 173
Humorous Unverifiable

That after Horror — that 'twas Us — that passed —

c. 1861 — Poem 281 (often interpreted as a humorous take on self-awareness)
Humorous Unverifiable

The only way to be immortal is to die.

c. 1878 — Letter to Mrs. J.G. Holland
Humorous Unverifiable

A Book is the best of Friends — The company of books is profitable.

c. 1873 — Letter to Louise and Frances Norcross
Humorous Unverifiable

The way to know a Rose is to smell it.

c. 1870 — Letter to Unknown Recipient
Humorous Unverifiable

The Soul's Superior — to her House —

c. 1863 — Poem 677
Humorous Unverifiable

The pedigree of the Horse is not important. It is the Horse that matters.

c. 1878 — Letter to Mrs. J.G. Holland
Humorous Unverifiable

The Frost of Death was on the Pane —

c. 1868 — Poem 1109 (ironic given Robert Frost)
Humorous Unverifiable

The only Monarch in the world is the King of the Air.

c. 1870 — Letter to Unknown Recipient
Humorous Unverifiable

The Sun — just touched the Morning — The Morning — Happy thing — Supposed that He had come to dwell — And Life — would all be Spring —

c. 1861 — Poem 228
Humorous Unverifiable

To be of use is the only way to be happy.

c. 1876 — Letter to Mrs. J.G. Holland
Humorous Unverifiable

They say that 'time assuages' — Time never did assuage — An actual suffering strengthens As Sinews do, with age —

c. 1875 — Poem 1334
Humorous Unverifiable

The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.

1870 — Letter to Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Controversial Unverifiable

I’m nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?

1861 — Poem (J288/Fr260)
Controversial Unverifiable

The brain is wider than the sky.

1863 — Poem (Fr598)
Controversial Unverifiable

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain.

1862 — Poem (Fr340)
Controversial Unverifiable

Because I could not stop for Death—He kindly stopped for me.

1863 — Poem (Fr479)
Controversial Unverifiable