E. E. Cummings
E. E. Cummings (1894–1962) was an American poet, painter and playwright known for his experimental punctuation, syntax and typography. He wrote about 2,900 poems and remains one of the most widely read poets of the 20th century.
5 quotes in this collection. Read them below, share your favourites, or follow the related links to explore similar voices.
All quotes by E. E. Cummings
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“life's not a paragraph And death i think is no parenthesis”
Meaning: In this short poem from his 1926 collection, Cummings rejects the idea that life is a tidy block of text and death a mere aside. It invites you to treat life as open, rhythmic and unfinished. When plans break, treat the disruption as part of the story, not a footnote. -
“Every artist's strictly illimitable country is himself.”
Meaning: Writing about the sculptor-poet circle around Ezra Pound in 1953, Cummings argued that an artist's real territory is inner, not geographic. Anyone can apply this: your richest material is your own experience. Spend ten minutes journaling about what you honestly see and want before you ask others for direction. -
“It's the most wonderful life on earth.”
Meaning: Cummings ends his 1958 advice to would-be poets with this line, after warning that the work demands you to feel, work and fight until you die. His point is that a hard, honest life is still richly rewarding. Pick one demanding thing you love and give it steady time this week. -
“To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”
Meaning: From his 1958 advice to young poets, Cummings admits that staying true to yourself is a lifelong struggle against pressure to conform. In daily life it can mean turning down a path chosen only to impress others, and choosing one that fits your own values. -
“Almost anybody can learn to think or believe or know, but not a single human being can be taught to feel.”
Meaning: Cummings told students in 1958 that knowledge can be handed over, but feeling cannot be taught; it has to be lived. Take it as a nudge to stop only analysing your days. Tonight, put the phone down and notice what a conversation or a meal actually makes you feel.