Paul Laurence Dunbar Professions : Poet Born : June 27, 1872 Died : February 9, 1906 Browse All Authors Top 27 quotes by Paul Laurence Dunbar ..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 eye lying Hope is tenacious. It goes on living and working when science has dealt it what should be its deathblow. Paul Laurence Dunbar should hope goes-on 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 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 black writing attention With our short sight we affect to take a comprehensive view of eternity. Our horizon is the universe. Paul Laurence Dunbar horizon views sight 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 joy laughing 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 Only the rich are lonesome. Paul Laurence Dunbar lonesome rich Poor conceited humanity! Interpreters of God indeed. Paul Laurence Dunbar godly conceited humanity 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 self believe people 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 heart lying A song fluttered down in the form of a dove, Paul Laurence Dunbar messages song life I know what the caged bird feels, alas! Paul Laurence Dunbar alas feels bird 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 godly ambition sight 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 citizens dog men All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy. Paul Laurence Dunbar literature play work Washington is the city where the big men of little towns come to be disillusioned Paul Laurence Dunbar cities littles men We wear the mask that grins and lies. Paul Laurence Dunbar tortured-souls wearing-a-mask lying 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 notes excellent promise Money is a great dignifier. Paul Laurence Dunbar money Similar Authors Abdellatif Laabi poet Ihara Saikaku poet Abram Joseph Ryan poet Ingeborg Bachmann poet Izumi Shikibu poet Bion of Smyrna poet All Authors
