Women know the way to rear up children (to be just). They know a simple, merry, tender knack of tying sashes, fitting baby-shoes, and stringing pretty words that make no sense. And kissing full sense into empty words.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
At painful times, when composition is impossible and reading not enough, grammars and dictionaries are excellent for distraction.
Interpretation
What this quote means
During difficult times when creative expression feels unattainable, studying grammar and dictionaries can provide a helpful diversion.
This quote by Elizabeth Barrett Browning emphasizes that in moments of emotional distress or writer's block, turning to the structure of language through grammars and dictionaries can offer a productive distraction. It suggests that instead of forcing creativity, one can immerse themselves in the mechanics of language to find solace and perhaps gain inspiration in the process.
Themes
DistractionLanguageCreativityWritingStudy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared during a writing workshop when discussing overcoming writer's block.
More from Elizabeth Barrett Browning
All quotes βShe has seen the mystery hid Under Egypt's pyramid: By those eyelids pale and close Now she knows what Rhamses knows.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
First time he kissed me, he but only kissed The fingers of this hand wherewith I write; And, ever since, it grew more clean and white.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God: But only he who sees takes off his shoes.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
Our Euripides the human, With his droppings of warm tears, and his touchings of things common Till they rose to meet the spheres.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
Love me sweet With all thou art Feeling, thinking, seeing; Love me in the Lightest part, Love me in full Being.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
Similar quotes
I know a good many men of great learning-that is, men born with an extraordinary eagerness and capacity to acquire knowledge. One and all, they tell me that they can't recall learning anything of any value in school. All that schoolmasters managed to accomplish with them was to test and determine the amount of knowledge that they had already acquired independently-and not infrequently the determination was made clumsily and inaccurately.
H. L. MenckenRead
I didn't really want to be the coach who wins but the coach who educates.
Vicente Del BosqueRead
Africa's youth are probably one of its greatest resources. There's a tendency to see youth, for example as a problem. But for the continent of Africa, youth are an opportunity, and they are an opportunity that the continent needs to take advantage of.
Linda Thomas-GreenfieldRead
The Arts and Sciences, essential to the prosperity of the State and to the ornament of human life, have a primary claim to the encouragement of every lover of his country and mankind.
George WashingtonRead
The mind of a child is no less vagrant than his steps; it pursues the gossamer and flies from object to object, lawless and unconfined, and it is equally necessary to the development of his frame that his thoughts and his body should be free from fetters.
William GodwinRead
When I am through learning, I am through.
John WoodenRead