61 Quotes & Sayings By Robert Browning

Robert Browning was born in 1812 in the village of Bisto, near Norwich. He soon moved to London, where he attended school, studied law, and began his literary career. He spent 24 years as a lawyer, but his work earned him little money, so he turned to writing. Browning received good reviews for his early poetry, but only his comic opera "Porphyria's Lover" found any measure of success Read more

His first major poem, "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came," was published in 1842 and became his most popular work. It was later selected for inclusion in the collection "Men and Women". Browning's other poems, for the most part, were slight attempts at versifying imitations of Romantic poets like Coleridge and Wordsworth.

Browning continued to receive critical praise for his verse throughout his life; however, he never gained widespread popularity. He died on September 7, 1894 at age 74.

How sad and bad and mad it was - but...
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How sad and bad and mad it was - but then, how it was sweet Robert Browning
Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or...
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Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for? Robert Browning
My sun sets to rise again.
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My sun sets to rise again. Robert Browning
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There is an inmost center in us all, where truth abides in fullness;....and, to know, rather consists in opening out a way where the imprisoned splendor may escape, then in effecting entry for a light supposed to be without. Robert Browning
Love is the energy of life.
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Love is the energy of life. Robert Browning
Take away love and our earth is a tomb.
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Take away love and our earth is a tomb. Robert Browning
What Youth deemed crystal, Age finds out was dew
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What Youth deemed crystal, Age finds out was dew Robert Browning
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The rain set early in tonight, The sullen wind was soon awake, It tore the elm-tops down for spite, And did its best to vex the lake: I listened with heart fit to break. When glided in Porphyria; straight She shut the cold out and the storm, And kneeled and made the cheerless grate Blaze up and all the cottage warm; Robert Browning
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Love, hope, fear, faith - these make humanity; These are its sign and note and character Robert Browning
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Days decrease, / And autumn grows, autumn in everything. Robert Browning
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Who hears music, feels his solitude Peopled at once. Robert Browning
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In this world, who can do a thing, will not; And who would do it, cannot, I perceive: Yet the will's somewhat – somewhat, too, the power –And thus we half-men struggle. Robert Browning
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A lion may die of an ass's kick. Robert Browning
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The power of the night, the press of the storm, the post of the foe; where he stands, the Arch Fear in a visible form, yet, the strong man must go. Robert Browning
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Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, The last of life, for which the first was made ... Robert Browning
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A minute’s success pays the failure of years. Robert Browning
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I was made and meant to look for you and wait for you and become yours forever. Robert Browning
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The gray sea and the long black land; And the yellow half-moon large and low: And the startled little waves that leap In fiery ringlets from their sleep, As I gain the cove with pushing prow, And quench its speed i’ the slushy sand. Robert Browning
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Without love, our earth is a tomb Robert Browning
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Blot out his name, then, record one lost soul more,    One task more declined, one more footpath untrod, One more devils’-triumph and sorrow for angels,    One wrong more to man, one more insult to God! Robert Browning
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God’s in His heaven– All’s right with the world! Robert Browning
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Blot out his name, then, record one lost soul more, One task more declin'd, one more foot-path ontrod, One more devil's triumph and sorrow for angels, One wrong more to man, one more insult to God! Robert Browning
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Grow old along with me--the best is yet to be, Robert Browning
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Any nose May ravage with impunity a rose. Robert Browning
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Best be yourself, imperial, plain, and true. Robert Browning
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Why stay we on earth except to grow? Robert Browning
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Grow old with me! The best is yet to be The last of life for which the first was made: Our times are in his hands Who sayeth "a whole I plant Youth shows but half Trust God see all nor be afraid." Robert Browning
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When pain ends gain ends too. Robert Browning
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Your children are not dead. They are just waiting until the world deserves them. Robert Browning
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Ah but a man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for? Robert Browning
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Man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for? Robert Browning
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Make us happy and you make us good. Robert Browning
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Man partly is and wholly hopes to be. Robert Browning
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So free we seem so fettered fast we are! Robert Browning
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Who hears music feels his solitude peopled at once. Robert Browning
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When a man's busy leisure strikes him as a wonderful pleasure and at leisure once is he? Straightway he wants to be busy. Robert Browning
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I... know what I do and am unmoved by men's blame or their praise either. Robert Browning
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When the fight begins within himself a man's worth something. Robert Browning
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Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be. Robert Browning
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Strike when thou wilt the hour of rest but let my last days be my best. Robert Browning
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T'were too absurd to slight for the hereafter the day's delight! Robert Browning
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Autumn wins you best by this: its mute Appeal to sympathy for its decay. Robert Browning
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Like dogs in a wheel, birds in a cage, or squirrels in a chain, ambitious men still climb and climb, with great labor, and incessant anxiety, but never reach the top. Robert Browning
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White shall not neutralize the black, nor good compensate bad in man, absolve him so: life's business being just the terrible choice. Robert Browning
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Love, hope, fear, faith - these make humanity; These are its sign and note and character. Robert Browning
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Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for? Robert Browning
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A minute's success pays the failure of years. Robert Browning
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Motherhood: All love begins and ends there. Robert Browning
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Love is energy of life. Robert Browning
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I trust in nature for the stable laws of beauty and utility. Spring shall plant and autumn garner to the end of time. Robert Browning
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A face to lose youth for, to occupy age With the dream of, meet death with. Robert Browning
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Who hears music feels his solitude peopled at once. Robert Browning
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What Youth deemed crystal, Age finds out was dew. Robert Browning
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So, fall asleep love, loved by me... for I know love, I am loved by thee. Robert Browning
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Earth changes, but thy soul and God stand sure. Robert Browning
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Autumn wins you best by this its mute appeal to sympathy for its decay. Robert Browning
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Grow old with me! The best is yet to be. Robert Browning
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If you get simple beauty and naught else, you get about the best thing God invents. Robert Browning
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Thou art my single day, God lends to leaven What were all earth else, with a feel of heaven. Robert Browning
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God is the perfect poet. Robert Browning