“To live is so startling, it leaves but little room for other occupations.”

— Emily Dickinson, Letter to T. W. Higginson (late 1872)

About Emily Dickinson

1830 – 1886

American poet who wrote nearly 1,800 poems, most of them unpublished in her lifetime, on nature, death, faith and the inner life.

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all.”

“After great pain, a formal feeling comes.”

“I'm Nobody! Who are you? Are you – Nobody – Too?”

“The wise man will live as long as he ought, not as long as he can.”

“In theory there is nothing to hinder our following what we are taught; but in life there are many things to draw us aside.”

“The better part of valour is discretion; in the which better part I have saved my life.”

“So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, so long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”

“Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage.”