This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Ellen Glasgow, fully Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow
The pathos of life is worse than the tragedy.
If I had a shiny gun I could have a world of fun speeding bullets through the brains of the folks that cause me pains.
Misfortune, and recited misfortune especially, can be prolonged to the point where it ceases to excite pity and arouses only irritation.
Emily Dickinson, fully Emily Elizabeth Dickinson
Earth is a merry damsel, and heaven a knight so true.
Did not one spend the first half of one's days in dreams of happiness and the second half in regrets and terrors?
Emily Dickinson, fully Emily Elizabeth Dickinson
It was not death, for I stood up, and all the dead lie down; it was not night, for all the bells put out their tongues, for noon. It was not frost, for on my flesh I felt siroccos crawl, nor fire, for just my marble feet could keep a chancel cool. And yet it tasted like them all; the figures I have seen set orderly, for burial, reminded me of mine, as if my life were shaven and fitted to a frame, and could not breathe without a key; and I was like midnight, some, when everything that ticked has stopped, and space stares, all around, or grisly frosts, first autumn morns, repeal the beating ground. But most like chaos,--stopless, cool, without a chance or spar,-- or even a report of land to justify despair.
Emily Brontë, fully Emily Jane Brontë, aka pseudonym Ellis Bell
You talk of her mind being unsettled - how the devil could it be otherwise, in her frightful isolation? And that insipid, paltry creature attending her from duty and humanity! From pity and charity. He might as well plant an oak in a flower-pot, and expect it to thrive, as imagine he can restore her to vigour in the soil of his shallow cares!
Emily Dickinson, fully Emily Elizabeth Dickinson
The dearest ones of time, the strongest friends of the soul--BOOKS.
Emily Dickinson, fully Emily Elizabeth Dickinson
Who has not found the heaven below will fail of it above. God's residence is next to mine, His furniture is love.
Emily Brontë, fully Emily Jane Brontë, aka pseudonym Ellis Bell
Look on the grave where thou must sleep thy last, and strongest foe; it is endurance not to weep, if that repose seem woe.
Grief |
Emily Brontë, fully Emily Jane Brontë, aka pseudonym Ellis Bell
I pray one prayer—I repeat it till my tongue stiffens—Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you—haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always—take any form—drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!
Emily Brontë, fully Emily Jane Brontë, aka pseudonym Ellis Bell
He shall never know I love him: and that, not because he's handsome, but because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made out of, his and mine are the same.
Emily Brontë, fully Emily Jane Brontë, aka pseudonym Ellis Bell
The world is for me a hideous collection of memorabilia telling me she lived and I have lost her.
Emily Dickinson, fully Emily Elizabeth Dickinson
Whenever a thing is done for the first time, it releases a little demon.