--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When our two souls stand up erect and…" description: "\"“When our two souls stand up erect and strong, Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher, Until the lengthening wings break into fire At either cur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/elizabeth-barrett-browning-102_face-to-face_when-our-two-souls-stand-up-erect-and-st_3151164.png" --- # When our two souls stand up erect and strong, Face to… ![“When our two souls stand up erect and strong, Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher, Until the lengthening wings break into fire At either curvèd point,---what bitter wrong Can the earth do to us, that we should not long Be here contented? Think! In mounting higher, The angels would press…” quote by Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/elizabeth-barrett-browning-102_face-to-face_when-our-two-souls-stand-up-erect-and-st_3151164.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/elizabeth-barrett-browning-102_face-to-face_when-our-two-souls-stand-up-erect-and-st_3151164.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/elizabeth-barrett-browning-102_face-to-face_when-our-two-souls-stand-up-erect-and-st_3151164.png) > ““When our two souls stand up erect and strong, Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher, Until the lengthening wings break into fire At either curvèd point,---what bitter wrong Can the earth do to us, that we should not long Be here contented? Think! In mounting higher, The angels would press on us and aspire To drop some golden orb of perfect song Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay Rather on earth, Belovèd,---where the unfit Contrarious moods of men recoil away And isolate pure spirits, and permit A place to stand and love in for a day, With darkness and the death-hour rounding it.”” [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem reflects on the yearning for transcendence beyond earthly suffering, seeking pure connection and spiritual elevation despite worldly turmoil. **In simple terms:** Seek higher spiritual connection beyond earthly pain. Key Takeaway Pursue inner peace and higher purpose. Themes spirituality transcendence love loneliness purpose Mood contemplative hopeful melancholic Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - creative writing - personal crisis - grieving - seeking meaning Key Concepts metaphysics existential longing inner peace Questions to Reflect On - What does “higher” mean to you? - How can you find peace amid chaos? A Different Perspective Human frailty and societal conflict may hinder pure spiritual communion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Face to face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-to-face/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Two souls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-souls/) ## Related quotes > [Think, in mounting higher, the angels would press on us, and aspire to drop some golden orb of perfect song into our deep, dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/think-in-mounting-higher-the-angels-would-press-on-us-and-aspire-to/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Give her not greatness. For great souls must stand Alone and lonely in this little world: Cleft rocks that show the great Creator's hand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/give-her-not-greatness-for-great-souls-must-stand-alone-and-lonely-in/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [A man must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-must-stand-erect-not-be-kept-erect-by-others/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [It is any day better to stand erect with a broken and bandaged head then to crawl on one's belly, in order to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-is-any-day-better-to-stand-erect-with-a-broken-and-bandaged-head/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Be cheerful also, and seek not external help nor the tranquility which others give. A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/be-cheerful-also-and-seek-not-external-help-nor-the-tranquility-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“All the beaches of the world, could never amount to, nor implore the one grain of sand that I stand on, which is your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/all-the-beaches-of-the-world-could-never-amount-to-nor-implore-the/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“Do not be a "go along, get along" person when it comes to the suffering of others. Integrity is not a popularity contest. Stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/do-not-be-a-go-along-get-along-person-when-it-comes-to-the-suffering/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Stand-up will always be my first love, and it has been the primary way I've expressed myself since I was 17.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/stand-up-will-always-be-my-first-love-and-it-has-been-the-primary-way/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I was not born to fit in, I am born to stand out. How can you love someone if you don't love yourself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apple-homecillo/i-was-not-born-to-fit-in-i-am-born-to-stand-out-how-can-you-love/) Apple Homecillo > [“They say that nothing can stand against such a man, for the one gun – that marked Mutiny – deals instant death, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-duncan/they-say-that-nothing-can-stand-against-such-a-man-for-the-one-gun/) [Hal Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-duncan/) > [“Love only yourself a little bit longer, until you can't stand not to love someone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/love-only-yourself-a-little-bit-longer-until-you-can-t-stand-not-to/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [It all comes down to who is by your side and who is willing to stand up for love even when it seems impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/it-all-comes-down-to-who-is-by-your-side-and-who-is-willing-to-stand/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Stand in love don't fall in it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashaad-lee/stand-in-love-don-t-fall-in-it/) [Rashaad Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashaad-lee/) > [I can't stand how much I love you boy. I can't stand how much I need you. I can't stand how much I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-stand-how-much-i-love-you-boy-i-can-t-stand-how-much-i-need/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I have only one truth to stand on. "I. Love. Her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammara-webber/i-have-only-one-truth-to-stand-on-i-love-her/) [Tammara Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammara-webber/) ## More by Elizabeth Barrett Browning > [I should not dare to call my soul my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/i-should-not-dare-to-call-my-soul-my-own/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Many a crown Covers bald foreheads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/many-a-crown-covers-bald-foreheads/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [And lilies are still lilies, pulled By smutty hands, though spotted from their white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/and-lilies-are-still-lilies-pulled-by-smutty-hands-though-spotted/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [The Greeks said grandly in their tragic phrase, 'Let no one be called happy till his death;' to which I would add, 'Let no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/the-greeks-said-grandly-in-their-tragic-phrase-let-no-one-be-called/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [“The face of all the world is changed, I think, Since first I heard the footsteps of they soul Move still, oh, still, beside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/the-face-of-all-the-world-is-changed-i-think-since-first-i-heard-the/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Wall must get the weather stain Before they grow the ivy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/wall-must-get-the-weather-stain-before-they-grow-the-ivy/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/how-do-i-love-thee-let-me-count-the-ways-i-love-thee-to-the-depth-and/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [With stammering lips and insufficient sound I strive and struggle to deliver right the music of my nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/with-stammering-lips-and-insufficient-sound-i-strive-and-struggle-to/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [The charm, one might say the genius, of memory is that it is choosy, chancy and temperamental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/the-charm-one-might-say-the-genius-of-memory-is-that-it-is-choosy/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [The flower-girl's prayer to buy roses and pinks, held out in the smoke, like stars by day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/the-flower-girl-s-prayer-to-buy-roses-and-pinks-held-out-in-the-smoke/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [They say that God lives very high! But if you look above the pines You cannot see our God. And why? And if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/they-say-that-god-lives-very-high-but-if-you-look-above-the-pines-you/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Men of science, osteologists And surgeons, beat some poets, in respect For nature,-count nought common or unclean, Spend raptures upon perfect specimens Of indurated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/men-of-science-osteologists-and-surgeons-beat-some-poets-in-respect/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [We can't separate our humanity from our poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/we-can-t-separate-our-humanity-from-our-poetry/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Happy are all free peoples, too strong to be dispossessed. But blessed are those among nations who dare to be strong for the rest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/happy-are-all-free-peoples-too-strong-to-be-dispossessed-but-blessed/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Suddenly, as rare things will, it vanished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/suddenly-as-rare-things-will-it-vanished/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) [Explore all 306 Elizabeth Barrett Browning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) ## More Face to face quotes > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [A man may quarrel with himself alone; that is, by controverting his better instincts and knowledge when brought face to face with temptation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/a-man-may-quarrel-with-himself-alone-that-is-by-controverting-his/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [“Gerber, who studied seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Ottoman court decisions, points to examples of Ottoman muftis (official jurists) who, despite being paid by the government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/gerber-who-studied-seventeenth-and-eighteenth-century-ottoman-court/) [Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/) > [“True love is like a ghost; everyone talks of it, but few have met it face to face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-love-is-like-a-ghost-everyone-talks-of-it-but-few-have-met-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Even when you're talking to them face to face you have this feeling of not connecting, as if the words just pass through them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryu-murakami/even-when-you-re-talking-to-them-face-to-face-you-have-this-feeling/) [Ryū Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryu-murakami/) > [“Each time we come to savasana, we practice dying—we surrender the body to the earth and prepare for our destiny in this life. Facing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/each-time-we-come-to-savasana-we-practice-dying-we-surrender-the-body/) [Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/) > [Now it is time to sit quiet, face to face with thee, and to sing dedication of life in this silent and overflowing leisure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/now-it-is-time-to-sit-quiet-face-to-face-with-thee-and-to-sing/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Though science makes no use for poetry, poetry is enriched by science. Poetry “takes up” the scientific vision and re-expresses its truths, but always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-p-jacks-2/though-science-makes-no-use-for-poetry-poetry-is-enriched-by-science/) L.P. Jacks > [“The goal of human life," says Ramakrishna, "is to meet God face to face." But the magic is this: if we look deeply into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-cope/the-goal-of-human-life-says-ramakrishna-is-to-meet-god-face-to-face/) [Stephen Cope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-cope/) > [“Do you want to know something from the beyond? Do you want to chat with divine beings face to face? It is indispensable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samael-aun-weor/do-you-want-to-know-something-from-the-beyond-do-you-want-to-chat/) [Samael Aun Weor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samael-aun-weor/) > [Relationships start out face to face...and end back to back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/relationships-start-out-face-to-face-and-end-back-to-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [While I was still going to embrace social media, I knew I had to do things that nobody else was doing. I decided I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-edward/while-i-was-still-going-to-embrace-social-media-i-knew-i-had-to-do/) [Mark Edward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-edward/) > [“It is the eternal struggle between these two principles - right and wrong - throughout the world. They are the two principles that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-the-eternal-struggle-between-these-two-principles-right-and/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Browse all 827 Face to face quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-to-face/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When our two souls stand up erect and strong, Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher, Until the lengthening wings break into fire At either curvèd point,---what bitter wrong Can the earth do to us, that we should not long Be here contented? Think! In mounting higher, The angels would press on us and aspire To drop some golden orb of perfect song Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay Rather on earth, Belovèd,---where the unfit Contrarious moods of men recoil away And isolate pure spirits, and permit A place to stand and love in for a day, With darkness and the death-hour rounding it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Barrett Browning" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/when-our-two-souls-stand-up-erect-and-strong-face-to-face-silent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Face to face" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/when-our-two-souls-stand-up-erect-and-strong-face-to-face-silent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/elizabeth-barrett-browning-102_face-to-face_when-our-two-souls-stand-up-erect-and-st_3151164.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/elizabeth-barrett-browning-102_face-to-face_when-our-two-souls-stand-up-erect-and-st_3151164.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/elizabeth-barrett-browning-102_face-to-face_when-our-two-souls-stand-up-erect-and-st_3151164.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When our two souls stand up erect and strong, Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher, Until the…” — Elizabeth Barrett Browning", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Elizabeth Barrett Browning", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When our two souls stand up...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/when-our-two-souls-stand-up-erect-and-strong-face-to-face-silent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/when-our-two-souls-stand-up-erect-and-strong-face-to-face-silent/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```