E. E. Cummings (1894–1962) was a trailblazing American poet known for his unconventional use of language, punctuation, and form. His work largely celebrates individuality, love, and the unshakeable human spirit. Here are some of his most memorable quotes, each accompanied by its original source and year of publication.
1“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, “i will wade out” (Songs XI) from XLI Poems (1925)
2“Because 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, “A Poet’s Advice to Students,” from A Miscellany (1958)
3“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.”
— E. E. Cummings, “A Poet’s Advice to Students,” from A Miscellany (1958)
4“For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always ourselves we find in the sea.”
— E. E. Cummings, “maggie and milly and molly and may” from 95 Poems (1958)
5“Trust your heart if the seas catch fire, live by love though the stars walk backward.”
— E. E. Cummings, “dive for dreams” from 95 Poems (1958)
6“May my heart always be open to little birds who are the secrets of living.”
— E. E. Cummings, “may my heart always be open to little birds” from Complete Poems: 1904–1962
7“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
— E. E. Cummings, attributed, specific source not identified
8“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”
— E. E. Cummings, attributed, specific source not identified
9“A world of made is not a world of born.”
— E. E. Cummings, “pity this busy monster, manunkind” from 1 × 1 (1944)
10“here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)”
— E. E. Cummings, “[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]” from Complete Poems: 1904–1962
11“Since feeling is first who pays any attention to the syntax of things will never wholly kiss you.”
— E. E. Cummings, “since feeling is first” from is 5 (1926)
12“Listen; there’s a hell of a good universe next door: let’s go.”
— E. E. Cummings, “pity this busy monster, manunkind” from 1 × 1 (1944)
13“Nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands.”
— E. E. Cummings, “[somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond]” from Complete Poems: 1904–1962
14“Love is the voice under all silences, the hope which has no opposite in fear.”
— E. E. Cummings, “love is the every only god” from Complete Poems: 1904–1962
15“Kisses are a better fate than wisdom.”
— E. E. Cummings, “since feeling is first” from is 5 (1926)
16“A lot of people think or believe or know they feel—but that’s thinking or believing or knowing; not feeling. And poetry is feeling—not knowing or believing or thinking. Almost anybody can learn to think or believe or know, but not a single human being can be taught to feel. Why? Because 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, “A Poet’s Advice to Students,” from A Miscellany (1958)
17“Yours is the light by which my spirit’s born: – you are my sun, my moon, and all my stars.”
— E. E. Cummings, “[you are tired (I think)]” from Complete Poems: 1904–1962
