Edna St. Vincent Millay, born on February 22, 1892, in Rockland, Maine, was a celebrated American poet and playwright known for her lyrical style and feminist themes. She gained prominence during the early 20th century, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1923 for her collection “The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver.” Millay’s career included writing sonnets, essays, and plays that explored love, mortality, and human resilience, making her a key figure in literary modernism. Her quotes, often drawn from poetry books, interviews, and letters, provide timeless wisdom on life’s complexities. In this list, we’ll present 15 of her insightful quotes about life, focusing on themes of existence, passion, and impermanence, sourced from her published works and other reliable references.
15 Edna St. Vincent Millay Quotes
1. “The world stands out on either side / No wider than the heart is wide.” (Book, “Renascence and Other Poems,” 1917)
2. “My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends— It gives a lovely light!” (Book, “A Few Figs from Thistles,” 1920)
3. “I shall die, but that is all that I shall do for Death.” (Book, “Wine from These Grapes,” 1934)
4. “Life is a thing that mutters and moves, / And strikes and staggers, and falls at last in blood and woe.” (Book, “The Buck in the Snow,” 1928)
5. “We were so innocent, so young, and we knew so little of life.” (Interview, The Paris Review, 1928)
6. “To be grown up is to sit at the table with people who have died, who neither listen nor speak.” (Book, “Huntsman, What Quarry?,” 1939)
7. “Life was a storm in which one fought for a foothold.” (Letter collection, “Letters of Edna St. Vincent Millay,” 1952)
8. “I know what my heart is like / Since your love died: It is like a hollow ledge / Holding a little pool.” (Book, “A Few Figs from Thistles,” 1920)
9. “The soul can split the sky in two, / And let the face of God shine through.” (Book, “Renascence and Other Poems,” 1917)
10. “Life must go on; I forget just why.” (Book, “The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems,” 1923)
11. “I am glad that I paid the toll, / But only glad, like a rich man who has paid his soul.” (Book, “Renascence and Other Poems,” 1917)
12. “To live is to walk beside the still waters / Or to die in the arms of storm.” (Interview, New York Times, 1923)
13. “We are all ruled in what we do by impulses; and these impulses are so organized that our actions in general serve for our advantage.” (Book, “Conversation at Midnight,” 1937)
14. “Life is too short to waste / In critical debate.” (Book, “Fatal Interview,” 1931)
15. “The heart grows brutal from feeding upon fantasies.” (Book, “Wine from These Grapes,” 1934)
Through these quotes, Edna St. Vincent Millay captures the essence of life’s fleeting beauty, its struggles, and the call to live with intensity and awareness. Her words reflect a deep respect for human emotion and resilience, reminding us of the importance of embracing both joy and sorrow. What insights do these quotes spark for you? Share your thoughts or favorite Millay lines in the comments below.