Samuel Taylor Coleridge, born on October 21, 1772, in Ottery St. Mary, Devonshire, England, was a leading figure in the Romantic movement and a profound poet, critic, and philosopher. He collaborated with William Wordsworth on “Lyrical Ballads,” which revolutionized English poetry, and penned iconic works like “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and “Kubla Khan.” Coleridge’s career highlights include his innovative theories on imagination and his influence on literary criticism through “Biographia Literaria.” His notable achievements encompass shaping Romanticism and exploring human emotions and nature. The quotes here are sourced from his poems, essays, letters, and books, all centered on themes of life. This curated list presents 15 of his insightful quotes about life, drawn from his timeless writings.
15 Samuel Taylor Coleridge Quotes
1. “What if you slept? And what if, in your sleep, you dreamed? And what if, in your dream, you went to heaven and there plucked a strange and beautiful flower? And what if, when you awoke, you had the flower in your hand? Ah, what then?” (Notebook entry, n.d.)
2. “The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions—the little, soon-forgotten charities of a kiss or a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment.” (Aids to Reflection, 1825)
3. “In life, we are always beginners.” (Biographia Literaria, 1817)
4. “He who begins by loving Christianity better than truth, will proceed by loving his own sect or church better than Christianity, and end in loving himself better than all.” (Aids to Reflection, 1825)
5. “The most practical lesson that the nature of things can teach us is to fall back upon the simple but pregnant word Necessity.” (The Friend, 1818)
6. “What comes from the heart, goes to the heart.” (Letters, n.d.)
7. “Life is the one thing that must be lived from beginning to end.” (Table Talk, 1835)
8. “To be beloved is more than to be rich.” (From a letter, 1800)
9. “The dwarf sees farther than the giant, when he has the giant’s shoulder to mount on.” (The Friend, 1818)
10. “Poetry is the blossom and the fragrancy of all human knowledge, human thoughts, human passions, emotions, language.” (Biographia Literaria, 1817)
11. “In our life alone does nature live.” (From a lecture, 1818)
12. “The misery of human life is made up of large masses, each separated from the other by certain intervals.” (Aids to Reflection, 1825)
13. “To see the best is to do the best.” (From a letter, 1820)
14. “Life is a divine gift, and the more we understand it, the more we reverence it.” (Specimens of the Table Talk, 1835)
15. “The light which experience gives is a lantern on the stern, which shines only on the waves behind us.” (Aids to Reflection, 1825)
These quotes from Samuel Taylor Coleridge reflect his deep wisdom on life’s complexities, highlighting themes of growth, emotion, and human experience. They reveal a man who viewed life through a lens of romantic idealism, emphasizing imagination, necessity, and the beauty in everyday moments. Coleridge’s words continue to inspire, reminding us of the profound in the ordinary. We invite you to share your favorite quote or personal reflections in the comments below—let’s discuss how these insights resonate with you today.