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Letitia Elizabeth Landon Quotes
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Letitia Elizabeth Landon was an English poet and novelist, better known by her initials L.E.L.

✵ 14. August 1802 – 15. October 1838
Letitia Elizabeth Landon photo
Letitia Elizabeth Landon: 785 quotes11 likes

Letitia Elizabeth Landon Quotes

“Glory of earth, and light from heaven,
Young Genius! but for thee,
And the wild wonders to thee given,
How base our earth would be!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

(19th May 1827) Genius
The London Literary Gazette, 1827

“How many children, discontented with the exercise of needful authority, might learn submission and thankfulness from the lot of others; such a temper as that we have been describing is very uncommon; the treatment of children oftener errs on the side of over-indulgence than aught else. How many might be taught better to appreciate the blessings which surround them by considering what some, less fortunate than themselves, are called upon to endure!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Traits and Trials of Early Life (1836)

“What was our parting?—one wild kiss,
How wild I may not say,
One long and breathless clasp, and then
As life were past away.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

(29th March 1823) Song - What was our parting ?—one wild kiss,
The London Literary Gazette, 1823

“O! the heart has all too many tears;
But none are like those that wait
On the blighted love, the loneliness
Of the young orphan’s fate.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Golden Violet - Sir Walter Manny at his Father’s Tomb
The Golden Violet (1827)

“She is but the type of all,
Mortal or celestial,
Who allow the heart,
In its passion and its power,
On some dark and fated hour,
To assert its part.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

(1836-3) (Vol.48) Subjects for Pictures. Second Series. I. Calypso Watching the Ocean
The Monthly Magazine

“She leant upon her harp, and thousands looked
On her in love and wonder—thousands knelt
And worshipp'd in her presence—burning tears,
And words that died in utterance, and a pause
Of breathless, agitated eagerness,
First gave the full heart's homage: then came forth
A shout that rose to heaven; and the hills,
The distant valleys, all rang with the name
Of the Æolian Sappho—every heart
Found in itself some echo to her song.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Sappho from The London Literary Gazette (4th May 1822) Poetic Sketches. 2nd Series - Sketch the First
The Vow of the Peacock (1835)

“to enjoy yourself is the easy method to give enjoyment to others; …”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Heath's book of Beauty, 1833 (1832)

“The shade fell darker from the clustering vine,
Whose green boughs twined the lattice like a wreath;
The lark had ceased the musical glad laugh
With which he hails the morning; note by note
The matin song had died upon the wind;
The dew which hung upon the cypresses
Had turned to sunshine on the waving leaves;”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

(14th February 1829) Lines on Newton’s Picture of the Disconsolate
The London Literary Gazette, 1829

“The evil spirit of love left his soul for a moment, but returned, though with a strange and lurid aspect, bringing with him other and worse spirits than himself—hate, revenge, blood-thirstiness—all merged in and coloured by the excited and fanatic temper of the time.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Other Gift Books

“Take that singing bird away!
It has too glad a lay
For an ear so lorn as mine!
And its wings are all too light,
And its feathers all too bright,
To rest in a bosom like mine!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Vow of the Peacock (1835)

“The field is fought—who walketh there?—
The shadow victory casts—Despair!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Vow of the Peacock (1835)

“Death never excites such sympathy as it does when it assumes the shape of murder.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Heath's book of Beauty, 1833 (1832)

“Human nature is accused of much more selfishness than it really has; a thousand kindly emotions break in upon and redeem our daily and interested life.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Heath's book of Beauty, 1833 (1832)

“I made myself a little boat
And launched it on the sea;
And into the wide world went forth
To see what there might be.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

(30th April 1825) Realities
The London Literary Gazette, 1825

“My power was but a woman’s power;
Yet, in that great and glorious dower
Which Genius gives, I had my part:
I poured my full and burning heart”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Title Poem
The Improvisatrice (1824)

“Oh! moral of enjoyment! — scattered, crushed : —
The pale checks of the few that staid, like ghosts
Haunting the footsteps of departing mirth,
While the bright pictures over them looked down
Almost in mockery.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

(17th July 1824) Poetic Sketches - 5th Series. Sketch the First. - Fidelity
The London Literary Gazette, 1824

“The assertion that “What is everybody’s business is nobody’s,” is true enough; but the assertion that “What is nobody’s business is everybody’s,” is still truer. Now, a love affair, for example, is, of all others, a thing apart--an enchanted dream, where “common griefs and cares come not.” It is like a matrimonial quarrel--never to be benefited by the interference of others: it is a sweet and subtle language, “that none understand but the speakers;” and yet this fine and delicate spirit is most especially the object of public curiosity. It is often supposed before it exists: it is taken for granted, commented upon, continued and ended, without the consent of the parties themselves; though a casual observer might suppose that they were the most interested in the business.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Monthly Magazine

“It is so sad —
So very lonely — to be the sole one
In whom there is a sign of change!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Knight’s Tale from The London Literary Gazette: 31st July 1824 Poetic Sketches - 5th Series - Sketch the Third
The Vow of the Peacock (1835)

“How deep, how merciless, the love represt,
That robs the silent midnight of its rest;
That sees in gather'd crowds but one alone;
That hears in mingled footsteps only one;
That turns the poet's page, to only find
Some mournful image for itself design'd;
That seeks in music, but the plaining tone
Which secret sorrow whispers is its own!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Neglected One
The Venetian Bracelet (1829)

“Violets! — deep-blue violets!
April's loveliest coronets!
There are no flowers grow in the vale,
Kiss'd by the dew, wooed by the gale, —
None by the dew of the twilight wet,
So sweet as the deep-blue violet!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Violet
The Improvisatrice (1824)

“Sweet Hope! every pleasant flower
Suns itself in thy glad power;
Every sorrow comes to thee,
Desart fount for Misery!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

(15th March 1823) Poetical Catalogue of Pictures. Hope, from a design by a Lady.
The London Literary Gazette, 1823

“… who cares for a general compliment more than a general lover.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Monthly Magazine

“Ah! I appeal to all who have any sensibility — for themselves — how delightful it is to be called in the morning, yet not to obey that call. It combines two of the greatest enjoyments of which our nature is susceptible— obstinacy and indolence.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Monthly Magazine

“What is the light from yon deep wood flashing —
What the sound on the wild wind borne?
What the dark ranks that are onwards dashing
To the voice of the pealing horn?
Who are they that thundering go? —
It is the Black Hunt of the bold Litzou!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The London Literary Gazette (3rd January 1835) Versions from the German (First Series.) - 'The Black Hunt of Litzou'
Translations, From the German

“… we all know mysteries are very fascinating things.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Traits and Trials of Early Life (1836)

“True love is timid, as it knew its worth,
And that such happiness is scarce for earth.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Golden Violet - The Child of the Sea
The Golden Violet (1827)

“Her heart and lip were music, albeit one
Who marvell'd at what her sweet self had done;
Who breathed for Love, and pined to find that Fame
In answer to her lute's soft summons came;
See, the eye droops in sadness, as to shun
That which it dared not gaze on, Glory's sun.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

(1825-2) Ideal Likenesses. Erinna
The Monthly Magazine

“a poet's love
Is immortality!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Minstrel of Portugal from The London Literary Gazette (21st September 1822)
The Improvisatrice (1824)

“Even in childhood's innocence of pleasure
Lives that destroying spirit which in time
Will waste, then want, the best of happiness.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Vow of the Peacock (1835)

“We talk of unsophisticated nature—I should like to know where it is to be found.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Heath's book of Beauty, 1833 (1832)

“Awakening hope has named the name
Of love, or blown its spark to flame.
Restlessness, but as the winds range
From leaf to leaf, from flower to flower;
Changefulness, but as rainbows change,
From colour'd sky to sunlit hour.
Ay, well indeed may minstrel sing,—
What have the heart and year like spring?”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Canto II
The Troubadour (1825)

“Tis this which makes
The best assurance of our promised heaven:
This triumph intellect has over death—
Our words yet live on others' lips; our thoughts
Actuate others. Can that man be dead
Whose spiritual influence is upon his kind?”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

A History of the Lyre
The Venetian Bracelet (1829)

“Clara:
Neighbours, dear friends, ye dream, ye dream : awake!
Gaze not on me with sadly wondering eyes,
I only bid you to your actual wish.
My voice is but the voice of your own hearts.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The London Literary Gazette (7th March 1835)
Translations, From the German

“Out upon the folly which, in estimating human misery, allows aught to bear comparison with the agony of the poor! I use the word poor relatively; I call not those poor to whom honesty brings self-respect, whose habits and whose means have gone together, and whose industry is its own support. But those are the poor whose exertion supplies not their wants—to whom cold, hunger, and weariness, are common feelings; who have known better days—to whom the past furnishes contrast, and the future fear.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Heath's book of Beauty, 1833 (1832)

“Lonely — lonely on the shore —
Where the mighty waters roar,
Would that she could pass them o'er!
Doth the maiden stand.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Monthly Magazine

“Difficulty is as needful to appreciation as labour is to existence.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

No.5. The Antiquary— MISS WARDOUR.
Literary Remains

“vanity, like all social vices, craves for novelty;”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Heath's book of Beauty, 1833 (1832)

“Weep not for the dead with a fruitless recalling,
Their soul on the wings of the morning hath fled;
Mourn rather for those whom yet life is enthralling,
Ah! weep for the living—weep not for the dead.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

All from The Vow of the Peacock - Second Canto
The Vow of the Peacock (1835)

“Who shall say
The love of genius is a common thing,
Such as the many feel—half selfishness,
Half vanity?—for genius is divine,
And, like a god, doth turn its dwelling-place
Into a temple; and the heart redeem'd
By its fine influence is immortal shrine
For love's divinity.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

A Summer Evening’s Tale
The Venetian Bracelet (1829)

“Oh, weary day that seemed so long!
Oh, hours that dragged their weight along!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Vow of the Peacock (1835)

“We know not of its presence, though its power
Be on the gradual round of every hour,
Now flinging down an empire, now a flower.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

(1837 1) (Vol. 49) Necessity
The Monthly Magazine

“Harsh all earth's destinies, — but his most hard
Who may not trust the praise he loves to hear —
Who may not hold his fame sure till, too late,
The seal of death and truth is set by fate.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The London Literary Gazette, 1826

“For wishes are effectual but by will,
And that too much is impotent and void
In frail humanity; and time steals by
Sinful and wavering, and unredeem’d.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

A Summer Evening’s Tale
The Venetian Bracelet (1829)

“Again he was thrown upon his resources; which have always appeared to me the very worst things on which an unfortunate individual can be thrown in the way of amusement.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Monthly Magazine

“In the east the day was reddening,
When the warriors pass'd;
In the west the night was deadening,
As they looked their last;
As they looked their last on him —
He, their comrade — their commander —
He, the earth's adored —
He, the godlike Alexander!
Who can wield his sword?
As they went their eyes were dim,
The silver-shielded warriors,
The warriors of the world!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

(1835-3) (Vol.45) Deathbed of Alexander the Great
The Monthly Magazine

“Look upon that hour-marked round,
Listen to that fateful sound;
There my silent hand is stealing.
My more silent course revealing;
Wild, devoted Pleasure, hear, —
Stay thee on thy mad career!”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

(27th July 1822) Sketches from Drawings by Mr. Dagley. Sketch the First. Time arresting the Career of Pleasure.
The London Literary Gazette, 1821-1822

“It is a gem which hath the power to show
If plighted lovers keep their faith or no :
If faithful, it is like the leaves of spring;
If faithless, like those leaves when withering.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Emerald Ring — a Superstition from The London Literary Gazette (28th December 1822) Fragments in Rhyme XI
The Improvisatrice (1824)

“Is there some nameless boding sent,
Like a noiseless voice from the tomb?—
A spirit note from the other world,
To warn of death and doom?”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Wreck from The London Literary Gazette (10th September 1825) - under the pen name Iole
The Vow of the Peacock (1835)

“Those sweet, vague sounds are on the air,
Half sleep, half song--half false, half true,
As if the wind that brought them there
Had touched them with its music too.”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Vow of the Peacock (1835)

“[Alvine] Oh, that sweet ring of graceful figures! one
Flings her white arms on high, and gaily strikes
Her golden cymbals — I can almost deem
I hear their beatings; one with glancing feet
Follows her music, while her crimson cheek
Is flushed with exercise, till the red grape
'Mid the dark tresses of a sister nymph
Is scarcely brighter; there another stands,
A darker spirit yet, with joyous brow,
And holding a rich goblet;”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The Vow of the Peacock (1835)