Dante Gabriel Rossetti quotes

Dante Gabriel Rossetti was an English poet, painter, and translator, and a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. His work is known for its vivid imagery, sensuality, and medieval themes. He became a central figure in Victorian art and literature, deeply influencing generations of artists and writers. Here are 38 of his quotes:

Gather a shell from the strewn beach And listen at its lips: they sigh The same desire and mystery, The echo of the whole sea's speech.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Sudden Light I have been here before, But when or how I cannot tell: I know the grass beyond the door, The sweet keen smell, The sighing sound, the light around the shore.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Sometimes thou seem'st not as thyself alone, But as the meaning of all things that are.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

If God in his wisdom have brought closeThe day when I must die,That day by water or fire or airMy feet shall fall in the destined snareWherever my road may lie.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

And Love, our light at night and shade at noon,Lulls us to rest with songs, and turns awayAll shafts of shelterless tumultuous day.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Your eyes smile peace.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Beauty like hers is genius.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

I am not as these are, the poet saithIn youth's pride, and the painter, among menAt bay, where never pencil comes nor pem.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

At length their long kiss severed, with sweet smart:And as the last slow sudden drops are shedFrom sparkling eaves when all the storm has fled,So singly flagged the pulses of each heart.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Look in my face; my name is Might-have-been; I am also called No-more, Too-late, Farewell.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Still we say as we go,- "Strange to think by the way Whatever there is to know, That shall we know one day."

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Tell me now in what hidden way is Lady Flora the lovely Roman? Where's Hipparchia, and where is Thais, Neither of them the fairer woman? Where is Echo, beheld of no man, Only heard on river and mere- She whose beauty was more than human?- But where are the snows of yester-year?

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Was it a friend or foe that spread these lies? Nay, who but infants question in such wise, 'T was one of my most intimate enemies.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

If the light is It is because God said 'Let there be light.'

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The blessed damozel lean'd out From the gold bar of Heaven; Her eyes were deeper than the depth Of waters still'd at even; She had three lilies in her hand, And the stars in her hair were seven.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

We two will lie i' the shadow of That living mystic tree Within whose secret growth the Dove Is sometimes felt to be, While every leaf that His plumes touch Saith His Name audibly.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The sun was gone now; the curl'd moon Was like a little feather Fluttering far down the gulf; and now She spoke through the still weather. Her voice was like the voice the stars Had when they sang together.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Now kiss, and think that there are really those, My own high-bosom'd beauty, who increase Vain gold, vain lore, and yet might choose our way! Through many years they toil; then on a day They die not, - for their life was death, - but cease; And round their narrow lips the mould falls close.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Around her, lovers, newly met 'Mid deathless love's acclaims, Spoke evermore among themselves Their heart-remember'd names; And the souls mounting up to God Went by her like thin flames.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Eat thou and drink; to-morrow thou shalt die. Surely the earth, that's wise being very old, Needs not our help. Then loose me, love, and hold Thy sultry hair up from my face; that I May pour for thee this golden wine, brim-high, Till round the glass thy fingers glow like gold. We'll drown all hours: thy song, while hours are toll'd, Shall leap, as fountains veil the changing sky.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Love is the last relay and ultimate outposts of eternity.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Places that are empty of you are empty of life.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti