Paul Laurence Dunbar Quotes

• Hope is tenacious. It goes on living and working when science has dealt it what should be its deathblow.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Hope, Goes On, Should

  Paul Laurence Dunbar, Gene Andrew Jarrett, Thomas Lewis Morgan (2005). “The Complete Stories of Paul Laurence Dunbar”, p.182, Ohio University Press

  134 Copy quote

• ..we wear the mask that grins and lies, it hides our cheeks and shades our eyes- this debt we pay to human guile; with torn and bleeding hearts we smile.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Smile, Lying, Eye

  1895 'We Wear the Mask', stanza 1.

  177 Copy quote

• With our short sight we affect to take a comprehensive view of eternity. Our horizon is the universe.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Sight, Views, Horizon

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2009). “The Uncalled (EasyRead Large Edition)”, p.113, ReadHowYouWant.com

  97 Copy quote

• I hope there is something worthy in my writings and not merely the novelty of a black face associated with the power to rhyme that has attracted attention.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Writing, Black, Attention

  96 Copy quote

• I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,- When he beats his bars and would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings- I know why the caged bird sings!

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Prayer, Heart, Wings

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2012). “Selected Poems”, p.28, Courier Corporation

  124 Copy quote

• A minute to smile and an hour to weep in, A pint of joy to a peck of trouble, And never a laugh but the moans come double; And that is life!

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Smile, Laughing, Joy

  Paul Laurence Dunbar, Joanne M. Braxton (1993). “The Collected Poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar”, p.8, University of Virginia Press

  94 Copy quote

• A song fluttered down in the form of a dove,
  And it bore me a message, the one word-Love!

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Life, Song, Messages

  Paul Laurence Dunbar, Joanne M. Braxton (1993). “The Collected Poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar”, p.167, University of Virginia Press

  42 Copy quote

• A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in. A minute to smile and an hour to weep in. A pint of joy to a peck of trouble, And never a laugh but the moans come double. And that is life. A crust and a corner that makes love precious, With a smile to warm and tears to refresh us, And joy seems sweeter when cares come after, And a moan is the finest of foils for laughter. And that is life.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Laughter, Sleep, Laughing

  Paul Laurence Dunbar, Joanne M. Braxton (1993). “The Collected Poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar”, p.8, University of Virginia Press

  78 Copy quote

• People are taking it for granted that [the Negro] ought not to work with his head. And it is so easy for these people among whom we are living to believe this; it flatters and satisfies their self-complacency.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Believe, Self, People

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2010). “The Sport of the Gods: and Other Essential Writings”, p.358, Modern Library

  57 Copy quote

• Only the rich are lonesome.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Rich, Lonesome

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2013). “The Sport of the Gods”, p.69, Courier Corporation

  57 Copy quote

• Poor conceited humanity! Interpreters of God indeed.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Godly, Conceited, Humanity

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2009). “The Uncalled (EasyRead Large Edition)”, p.113, ReadHowYouWant.com

  54 Copy quote

• We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,- - This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile And mouth with myriad subtleties. Why should the world be otherwise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see thus, while We wear the mask. We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries To thee from tortured souls arise. We sing, but oh the clay is vile Beneath our feet, and long the mile; But let the world dream otherwise, We wear the mask!

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Dream, Lying, Heart

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2004). “Selected Poems”, p.85, Penguin

  59 Copy quote

• Washington is the city where the big men of little towns come to be disillusioned

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Men, Cities, Littles

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2010). “The Sport of the Gods: and Other Essential Writings”, p.378, Modern Library

  28 Copy quote

• All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Work, Play, Literature

  48 Copy quote

• We reduce the deity to vulgar fractions. We place our own little ambitions and label them ?divine messages?. With our short sight we affect to take a comprehensive view of eternity.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Ambition, Godly, Sight

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2009). “The Uncalled (EasyRead Large Edition)”, p.113, ReadHowYouWant.com

  45 Copy quote

• I know what the caged bird feels, alas!

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Bird, Feels, Alas

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2012). “Selected Poems”, p.28, Courier Corporation

  46 Copy quote

• We wear the mask that grins and lies.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Lying, Wearing A Mask, Tortured Souls

  "We Wear the Mask" l. 1, 14 (1895)

  34 Copy quote

• Slight was the thing I bought, small was the debt I thought, Poor was the loan at best - God! but the interest!

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Debt, Poor, Best God

  Paul Laurence Dunbar, Joanne M. Braxton (1993). “The Collected Poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar”, p.213, University of Virginia Press

  21 Copy quote

• Money is a great dignifier.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Money

  Paul Laurence Dunbar, Gene Andrew Jarrett, Thomas Lewis Morgan (2005). “The Complete Stories of Paul Laurence Dunbar”, p.24, Ohio University Press

  23 Copy quote

• This, this indeed is to be accursed, For if we mortals love, or if we sing, We count our joys not by what we have, But by what kept us from that perfect thing.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Perfect, Joy, Ifs

  Paul Laurence Dunbar, “Life's Tragedy”

  23 Copy quote

• Oh, how with more than dreams the soul is torn, ere sleep comes down to soothe the weary eyes.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Dream, Sleep, Eye

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2004). “Selected Poems”, p.62, Penguin

  21 Copy quote

• What Joe Hamilton lacked more than anything else in the world was some one to kick him. Many a man who might have lived decently and become a fairly respectable citizen has gone to the dogs for the want of some one to administer a good resounding kick at the right time. It is corrective and clarifying.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Dog, Men, Citizens

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2017). “Delphi Complete Works of Paul Laurence Dunbar (Illustrated)”, p.992, Delphi Classics

  33 Copy quote

• Taking it all in all and after all, negro life in Washington is a promise rather than a fulfillment. But it is worthy of note for the really excellent things which are promised

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Promise, Excellent, Notes

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2010). “The Sport of the Gods: and Other Essential Writings”, p.383, Modern Library

  32 Copy quote

• The age is materialistic. Verse isn't. I must be with the age, so I am writing prose.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Writing, Age, Materialistic

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (2010). “The Sport of the Gods: and Other Essential Writings”, p.420, Modern Library

  18 Copy quote

• You are sweet, O Love, dear Love,You are soft as the nesting dove.Come to my heart and bring it restAs the bird flies home to its welcome nest.

  Paul Laurence Dunbar

  Sweet, Love You, Home

  Paul Laurence Dunbar, “Invitation To Love”

  10 Copy quote

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