“With me poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion.”

“With me poetry has been not a purpose, but a passion; and the passions should be held in reverence: they must not — they cannot at will be excited, with an eye to the paltry compensations, or the more paltry commendations, of mankind.”

“In criticism, I will be bold, and as sternly, absolutely just with friend and foe. From this purpose nothing shall turn me.”

“To elevate the soul, poetry is necessary.”

“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.”

“I would define, in brief, the poetry of words as the rhythmical creation of beauty.”

“Yet we met; and fate bound us together at the alter,and I never spoke of passion nor thought of love. She, however shunned society, and, attaching herself to me alone rendered me happy. It is a happiness to wonder; it is a happiness to dream.”