Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

100 Famous Quotes By E.E. Cummings, The Author Of 100 Selected Poems

Famous As: Poet
Born On: October 14, 1894
Died On: September 3, 1962
Born In: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Died At Age: 67
American poet Edward Estlin Cummings, better known as simply ‘E.E’, was famous for the many poems that he wrote but at the same time he was also a playwright and painter of great repute. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts and studied at Harvard University before embarking on a career as a prolific poet. He produced close to 3000 po-ems in his long career. Cummings was enlisted in the US Army during the First World War and was in fact arrested in France for being a suspected spy. He spent only three months in prison and it was the inspiration be-hind his well-known novel ‘The Enormous Room’. Cummings was an active traveler and throughout his youth, he travelled across Europe, Africa and Paris, in particular remained a city with which he shared a special bond. Due to his fame as a poet, playwright and essayist, he was honoured with the post of guest professor by Harvard University. Cum-mings was also honoured with the Bollinger Prize for Poetry in 1958 and is rightly considered among the most significant modern poets. Here are some of the selected quotes from his works that would definitely make for a compelling read. 
Listed In:
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.

E. E. Cummings
To be nobody but 
yourself in a world 
which is doing its best day and night to make you like 
everybody else means to fight the hardest battle 
which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.

E. E. Cummings
Unbeing dead isn't being alive.

Unbeing dead isn't being alive.

E. E. Cummings
For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It's always our self we find in the sea.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), It's always our self we find in the sea.

E. E. Cummings
Trust your heart if the seas catch fire, live by love though the stars walk backward.

Trust your heart if the seas catch fire, live by love though the stars walk backward.

E. E. Cummings
Whenever you think or you believe or you know, you're a lot of other people: but the moment you feel, you're nobody-but-yourself.

Whenever you think or you believe or you know, you're a lot of other people: but the moment you feel, you're nobody-but-yourself.

E. E. Cummings
I will take the sun in my mouth
and leap into the ripe air 
Alive 
with closed eyes
to dash against darkness

I will take the sun in my mouth and leap into the ripe air Alive with closed eyes to dash against darkness

E. E. Cummings
And it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

And it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you

E. E. Cummings
Lovers alone wear sunlight.

Lovers alone wear sunlight.

E. E. Cummings
Unless you love someone, nothing else makes sense.

Unless you love someone, nothing else makes sense.

E. E. Cummings
Yours is the light by which my spirit's born: - you are my sun, my moon, and all my stars.

Yours is the light by which my spirit's born: - you are my sun, my moon, and all my stars.

E. E. Cummings
Listen: there’s a hell
of a good universe next door; let’s go

Listen: there’s a hell of a good universe next door; let’s go

E. E. Cummings
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing 
than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance

I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance

E. E. Cummings
I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.

E. E. Cummings
The snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches.

The snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches.

E. E. Cummings
The three saddest things are the ill wanting to be well, the poor wanting to be rich, and the constant traveler saying 'anywhere but here'.

The three saddest things are the ill wanting to be well, the poor wanting to be rich, and the constant traveler saying 'anywhere but here'.

E. E. Cummings
Love is the voice under all silences, the hope which has no opposite in fear; the strength so strong mere force is feebleness: the truth more first than sun, more last than star...

Love is the voice under all silences, the hope which has no opposite in fear; the strength so strong mere force is feebleness: the truth more first than sun, more last than star...

E. E. Cummings
May came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

May came home with a smooth round stone as small as a world and as large as alone.

E. E. Cummings
Life's not a paragraph
And death i think is no parenthesis

Life's not a paragraph And death i think is no parenthesis

E. E. Cummings
Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit

Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit

E. E. Cummings
The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.

The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.

E. E. Cummings
I like my body when it is with your body. It is so quite new a thing. Muscles better and nerves more.

I like my body when it is with your body. It is so quite new a thing. Muscles better and nerves more.

E. E. Cummings
I carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)

I carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)

E. E. Cummings
One's not half of two; two are halves of one.

One's not half of two; two are halves of one.

E. E. Cummings
She may be going to Hell, of course, but at least she isn't standing still

She may be going to Hell, of course, but at least she isn't standing still

E. E. Cummings
Most people are perfectly afraid of silence

Most people are perfectly afraid of silence

E. E. Cummings
Kisses are a better fate than wisdom.

Kisses are a better fate than wisdom.

E. E. Cummings
Twice I have lived forever in a smile

Twice I have lived forever in a smile

E. E. Cummings
A wind has blown the rain away & the sky away & all the leaves away, & the trees stand. i think i, too, have known autumn too long.

A wind has blown the rain away & the sky away & all the leaves away, & the trees stand. i think i, too, have known autumn too long.

E. E. Cummings
And now you are and I am and we're a mystery which will never happen again.

And now you are and I am and we're a mystery which will never happen again.

E. E. Cummings
Time is a tree (this life one leaf)
but love is the sky and i am for you
just so long and long enough

Time is a tree (this life one leaf) but love is the sky and i am for you just so long and long enough

E. E. Cummings
I do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens;only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses

I do not know what it is about you that closes and opens;only something in me understands the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses

E. E. Cummings
Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question.

Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question.

E. E. Cummings
I love you much 
most beautiful darling 
more than anyone on the earth 
and I like you better 
than everything in the sky.

I love you much most beautiful darling more than anyone on the earth and I like you better than everything in the sky.

E. E. Cummings
Since the thing perhaps is
to eat flowers and not to be afraid

Since the thing perhaps is to eat flowers and not to be afraid

E. E. Cummings
Humanity I love you because when you're hard up you pawn your intelligence to buy a drink.

Humanity I love you because when you're hard up you pawn your intelligence to buy a drink.

E. E. Cummings
When man determined to destroy 
himself he picked the was 
of shall and finding only why 
smashed it into because

When man determined to destroy himself he picked the was of shall and finding only why smashed it into because

E. E. Cummings
Only by you my heart always moves.

Only by you my heart always moves.

E. E. Cummings
His lips drink water
 but his heart drinks wine

His lips drink water but his heart drinks wine

E. E. Cummings
You have played, 
(I think) 
And broke the toys you were fondest of, 
And are a little tired now; 
Tired of things that break, and— 
Just tired. 
So am I.

You have played, (I think) And broke the toys you were fondest of, And are a little tired now; Tired of things that break, and— Just tired. So am I.

E. E. Cummings
We can never be born enough.

We can never be born enough.

E. E. Cummings
...remember one thing only: that it's you-nobody else-who determines your destiny and decides your fate. Nobody else can be alive for you; nor can you be alive for anybody else.

...remember one thing only: that it's you-nobody else-who determines your destiny and decides your fate. Nobody else can be alive for you; nor can you be alive for anybody else.

E. E. Cummings
I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart.

I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart.

E. E. Cummings
Knowledge is a polite word for dead but not buried imagination.

Knowledge is a polite word for dead but not buried imagination.

E. E. Cummings
Your head is a living forest full of songbirds.

Your head is a living forest full of songbirds.

E. E. Cummings
May I be I is the only prayer--not may I be great or good or beautiful or wise or strong.

May I be I is the only prayer--not may I be great or good or beautiful or wise or strong.

E. E. Cummings
May my heart always be open to little birds who are the secrets of living

May my heart always be open to little birds who are the secrets of living

E. E. Cummings
We are for each other: then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life's not a paragraph

and death i think is no parenthesis

We are for each other: then laugh, leaning back in my arms for life's not a paragraph and death i think is no parenthesis

E. E. Cummings
Love is the whole and more than all.

Love is the whole and more than all.

E. E. Cummings
Now the ears of my ears are awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened.

Now the ears of my ears are awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened.

E. E. Cummings
You are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing.

You are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing.

E. E. Cummings
Love is a place 
& through this place of 
love move 
(with brightness of peace) 
all places 

yes is a world 
& in this world of yes live 
(skillfully curled) 
all worlds

Love is a place & through this place of love move (with brightness of peace) all places yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds

E. E. Cummings
And this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
I carry your heart [ i carry it in my heart ]

And this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart I carry your heart [ i carry it in my heart ]

E. E. Cummings
Great men burn bridges before they come to them

Great men burn bridges before they come to them

E. E. Cummings
Nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands

Nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands

E. E. Cummings
Be of love(a little)
More careful
Than everything

Be of love(a little) More careful Than everything

E. E. Cummings
Laughing is just another way of showing people your wise

Laughing is just another way of showing people your wise

E. E. Cummings
I imagine that yes is the only living thing.

I imagine that yes is the only living thing.

E. E. Cummings
The voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses

The voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses

E. E. Cummings
And the coolness of your smile is
 stirringofbirds between my arms

And the coolness of your smile is stirringofbirds between my arms

E. E. Cummings
Who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you

Who pays any attention to the syntax of things will never wholly kiss you

E. E. Cummings
Love is the every only god

Love is the every only god

E. E. Cummings
Such was a poet and shall be and is
-who'll solve the depths of horror to defend a sunbeam's architecture with his life: and carve immortal jungles of despair to hold a mountain's heartbeat in his hand.

Such was a poet and shall be and is -who'll solve the depths of horror to defend a sunbeam's architecture with his life: and carve immortal jungles of despair to hold a mountain's heartbeat in his hand.

E. E. Cummings
I will take the sun in my mouth and leap into the ripe air.

I will take the sun in my mouth and leap into the ripe air.

E. E. Cummings
As small as a world and as large as alone
For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)
it’s always ourselves we find in the sea

As small as a world and as large as alone For whatever we lose(like a you or a me) it’s always ourselves we find in the sea

E. E. Cummings
Love is a deeper season
than reason;
my sweet one

Love is a deeper season than reason; my sweet one

E. E. Cummings
You shall above all things be glad and young
For if you're young,whatever life you wear

it will become you;and if you are glad
whatever's living will yourself become.

You shall above all things be glad and young For if you're young,whatever life you wear it will become you;and if you are glad whatever's living will yourself become.

E. E. Cummings
That which we die for lives as wholly as that which we live for dies.

That which we die for lives as wholly as that which we live for dies.

E. E. Cummings
Seeker Of Truth

seeker of truth

follow no path
all paths lead where

truth is here

Seeker Of Truth seeker of truth follow no path all paths lead where truth is here

E. E. Cummings
Your homecoming will be my homecoming

Your homecoming will be my homecoming

E. E. Cummings
Miracles are to come.
 With you I leave a remembrance
 of miracles: they are by
 somebody who can love
and who shall be continually reborn,
 a human being.

Miracles are to come. With you I leave a remembrance of miracles: they are by somebody who can love and who shall be continually reborn, a human being.

E. E. Cummings
You are my sun,
my moon, and
all my stars.

You are my sun, my moon, and all my stars.

E. E. Cummings
Love being such, or such,
the normal corners of your heart
will never guess how much
my wonderful jealousy is dark

Love being such, or such, the normal corners of your heart will never guess how much my wonderful jealousy is dark

E. E. Cummings
It's no use trying to pretend that mostpeople and ourselves are alike. Mostpeople have less in common with ourselves than thesquarerootofminusone. You and I are human beings; mostpeople are snobs.

It's no use trying to pretend that mostpeople and ourselves are alike. Mostpeople have less in common with ourselves than thesquarerootofminusone. You and I are human beings; mostpeople are snobs.

E. E. Cummings
Tumbling-hair
 picker of buttercups
 violets
dandelions
And the big bullying daisies
 through the field wonderful
with eyes a little sorry
Another comes
 also picking flowers

Tumbling-hair picker of buttercups violets dandelions And the big bullying daisies through the field wonderful with eyes a little sorry Another comes also picking flowers

E. E. Cummings
-tomorrow is our permanent address

and there they’ll scarcely find us(if they do,
we’ll move away still further:into now

-tomorrow is our permanent address and there they’ll scarcely find us(if they do, we’ll move away still further:into now

E. E. Cummings
If a poet is anybody, he is somebody to whom things made matter very little - somebody who is obsessed by Making.

If a poet is anybody, he is somebody to whom things made matter very little - somebody who is obsessed by Making.

E. E. Cummings
Feeling is first,

Feeling is first,

E. E. Cummings
What if a dawn of a doom of a dream
bites this universe in two,
peels forever out of his grave,
and sprinkles nowhere with me and you?

What if a dawn of a doom of a dream bites this universe in two, peels forever out of his grave, and sprinkles nowhere with me and you?

E. E. Cummings
Deeds cannot dream what dreams can do

Deeds cannot dream what dreams can do

E. E. Cummings
Nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility

Nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals the power of your intense fragility

E. E. Cummings
Somewhere i have never traveled, gladly beyond any experience, your eyes have their silence; in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me, or which i cannot touch because they are too near

Somewhere i have never traveled, gladly beyond any experience, your eyes have their silence; in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me, or which i cannot touch because they are too near

E. E. Cummings
If 180 million people want to be undead, that’s their funeral, but I happen to like being alive.

If 180 million people want to be undead, that’s their funeral, but I happen to like being alive.

E. E. Cummings
In the street of the sky night walks scattering poems

In the street of the sky night walks scattering poems

E. E. Cummings
Down with hell and heaven and all the religious fuss
infinity pleased our parents 
one inch looks good to us

Down with hell and heaven and all the religious fuss infinity pleased our parents one inch looks good to us

E. E. Cummings
Here's to opening and upward...
and to yourself and up with you and up with and up with laughing.

Here's to opening and upward... and to yourself and up with you and up with and up with laughing.

E. E. Cummings
The first step to expanding your reality is to discard the tendency to exclude things from possibility.

The first step to expanding your reality is to discard the tendency to exclude things from possibility.

E. E. Cummings
The moon rattles like a fragment of angry candy

The moon rattles like a fragment of angry candy

E. E. Cummings
I shall imagine life
is not worth dying,if
(and when)roses complain
their beauties are in vain

but though mankind persuades
itself that every weed's
a rose,roses(you feel
certain)will only smile

I shall imagine life is not worth dying,if (and when)roses complain their beauties are in vain but though mankind persuades itself that every weed's a rose,roses(you feel certain)will only smile

E. E. Cummings
...and down they forgot as up they grew.

...and down they forgot as up they grew.

E. E. Cummings
Always it’s Spring)and everyone’s in love and flowers pick themselves.

Always it’s Spring)and everyone’s in love and flowers pick themselves.

E. E. Cummings
The Symbol of all Art is the Prism. The goal is destructive. To break up the white light of objective realism into the secret glories it contains.

The Symbol of all Art is the Prism. The goal is destructive. To break up the white light of objective realism into the secret glories it contains.

E. E. Cummings
One pierced moment whiter than the rest

-turning from the tremendous lie of sleep
i watch the roses of the day grow deep.

One pierced moment whiter than the rest -turning from the tremendous lie of sleep i watch the roses of the day grow deep.

E. E. Cummings
An intelligent person fights for lost causes, realizing that others are merely effects

An intelligent person fights for lost causes, realizing that others are merely effects

E. E. Cummings
...A good Book, has no Ending...

...A good Book, has no Ending...

E. E. Cummings
Our can'ts were born to happen

our mosts have died in more

Our can'ts were born to happen our mosts have died in more

E. E. Cummings
Like the burlesque comedian, I am abnormally fond of that precision which creates movement.

Like the burlesque comedian, I am abnormally fond of that precision which creates movement.

E. E. Cummings