Heart, we will forget him, You and I, tonight! You must forget the warmth he gave, I will forget the light.
Emily DickinsonRead
Memory is a strange Bell—Jubilee, and Knell.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Memory encompasses both joyful and sorrowful moments, much like a bell that can signal celebration or mourning.
In this quote, Emily Dickinson reflects on the dual nature of memory, suggesting that it can evoke both happiness (jubilee) and sadness (knell). The metaphor of a bell illustrates how memories resonate within us, often ringing out with the joyous echoes of pleasant events while also reminding us of losses and sorrowful experiences. Thus, memory serves as a powerful, complex part of our human experience, encapsulating the richness of life.
Themes
MemoryJoySorrowExperienceHuman Nature
In practice
Example use cases
To inspire a group reflection on personal growth, one might share this quote during a workshop.
More from Emily Dickinson
All quotes →I held a jewel in my fingers And went to sleep. The day was warm, and winds were prosy; I said: "'T will keep." I woke and chid my honest fingers,— The gem was gone; And now an amethyst remembrance Is all I own.
Emily DickinsonRead
I'll tell you how the sun rose, a ribbon at a time. The steeples swam in amethyst, The news like squirrels ran. The hills untied their bonnets, The bobolinks begun. Then I said softly to myself, "That must have been the sun!
Emily DickinsonRead
My best Acquaintances are those With Whom I spoke no Word
Emily DickinsonRead
This is the Hour of Lead- Remembered, if outlived, As freezing persons, recollect the Snow- First-Chill-then Stupor- then the letting go---
Emily DickinsonRead
Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned.
Emily DickinsonRead
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