While counting the greatest of English poets ever to have lived on Earth, it is only certain that William Wordsworth would be amongst the first ones to be listed. For had it not been for this great man, the era of Romanticism in English poetry wouldn’t have existed! He is the man behind ‘Lyrical Ballads’ the man who penned ‘The Prelude’, the man who eventually became one of the most influential English Romantic poets of the century. Together with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Wordsworth launched the Romantic era of English literature, in which writers sought to unite the tranquillity of nature and the inner emotional world of men. He wanted to create poetry that allowed readers to reunite with their true emotions and feelings. In 1843, he was named Poet Laureate of Britain, a post which he retained until his death in 1850. Wordsworth’s most famous work, ‘The Prelude’, an autobiographical, is considered by many to be the crowning achievement of English romanticism. The poem, revised numerous times, chronicles the spiritual life of the poet and marks the birth of a new genre of poetry. Although Wordsworth worked on ‘The Prelude’ throughout his life, the poem was published posthumously. Much like his poetry, Wordsworth’s quotes give a new perspective to life. They cover varied topics like meaning of life, happiness, love and family. We bring to you some of the interesting quotes by William Wordsworth that will surely provide you with food for thought.
Dreams, books, are each a world; and books, we know,
Are a substantial world, both pure and good:
Round these, with tendrils strong as flesh and blood,
Our pastime and our happiness will grow.
When from our better selves we have too long
Been parted by the hurrying world, and droop,
Sick of its business, of its pleasures tired,
How gracious, how benign, is Solitude
The good die first, and they whose hearts are dry as summer dust, burn to the socket.
William Wordsworth
The earth was all before me. With a heart
Joyous, nor scared at its own liberty,
I look about; and should the chosen guide
Be nothing better than a wandering cloud,
I cannot miss my way.
