“Writing poetry requires a double liberty, and an inclination which comes only of itself.”

Describing poetic creation as dependent upon freedom as well as voluntary inspiration · Letter to H. S. Boyd, 1836

• Freedom
• Poetry
• Writing

“Whatever acts upon you, becomes you—and whatever you love or hate, whatever charms you or is scorned by you, acts on you and becomes you.”

Observing how experience continually enters into and reshapes individual identity · Letter to Robert Browning, 18 April 1845

• Change
• Experience
• Identity

“What we call Life is a condition of the soul, and the soul must improve in happiness and wisdom, except by its own fault.”

Presenting life as an inward process of moral and emotional growth · Letter to Robert Browning, 5 March 1845

• Growth
• Life
• Wisdom