She has seen the mystery hid Under Egypt's pyramid: By those eyelids pale and close Now she knows what Rhamses knows.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
Women know the way to rear up children (to be just). They know a simple, merry, tender knack of tying sashes, fitting baby-shoes, and stringing pretty words that make no sense. And kissing full sense into empty words.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights a mother's innate ability to nurture and teach children with care and affection.
In this quote, Elizabeth Barrett Browning emphasizes the unique qualities that women possess in raising children, underscoring their intuitive understanding of what it takes to instill values such as justice and kindness. She illustrates this through the imagery of tender actions like tying sashes and fitting shoes, suggesting that beyond the practical, it is the emotional connection and the love imparted through seemingly simple gestures that truly shape a child's understanding of the world.
Themes
MotherhoodChildrenNurtureLoveEducation
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of nurturing relationships, this quote beautifully illustrates the impact of a mother's love.
More from Elizabeth Barrett Browning
All quotes →First time he kissed me, he but only kissed The fingers of this hand wherewith I write; And, ever since, it grew more clean and white.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God: But only he who sees takes off his shoes.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
Our Euripides the human, With his droppings of warm tears, and his touchings of things common Till they rose to meet the spheres.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
Love me sweet With all thou art Feeling, thinking, seeing; Love me in the Lightest part, Love me in full Being.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
At painful times, when composition is impossible and reading not enough, grammars and dictionaries are excellent for distraction.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
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