---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have not told my garden yet, Lest that…"
description: "\"“I have not told my garden yet, Lest that should conquer me; I have not quite the strength now To break it to the bee. I will not name it in the street..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/emily-dickinson-310_emily-dickinson_i-have-not-told-my-garden-yet-lest-that_1776451.jpg"
---

#  I have not told my garden yet, Lest that should conquer…

![“I have not told my garden yet, Lest that should conquer me; I have not quite the strength now To break it to the bee. I will not name it in the street, For shops would stare, that I, So shy, so very ignorant, Should have the face to die. The hillsides must not know it, Where I have rambled so, Nor…” quote by Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/emily-dickinson-310_emily-dickinson_i-have-not-told-my-garden-yet-lest-that_1776451.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/emily-dickinson-310_emily-dickinson_i-have-not-told-my-garden-yet-lest-that_1776451.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/emily-dickinson-310_emily-dickinson_i-have-not-told-my-garden-yet-lest-that_1776451.jpg)

> ““I have not told my garden yet, Lest that should conquer me; I have not quite the strength now To break it to the bee. I will not name it in the street, For shops would stare, that I, So shy, so very ignorant, Should have the face to die. The hillsides must not know it, Where I have rambled so, Nor tell the loving forests The day that I shall go, Nor lisp it at the table, Nor heedless by the way Hint that within the riddle One will walk to-day!””

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker fears revealing personal secrets, worrying that exposure will lead to judgment or loss of self.

**In simple terms:** Fear of being judged if secrets revealed.

Key Takeaway

Guard your inner truths.

Themes

privacy vulnerability self‑acceptance

Mood

anxious reflective

Type

poetic introspective

When to use this quote

- personal confession
- social interaction
- creative writing
- mental health
- self‑reflection

Key Concepts

existential anxiety identity social perception

Questions to Reflect On

- What truths are you keeping hidden?
- How might vulnerability change your relationships?

A Different Perspective

Revealing too much can also bring connection and relief.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Emily-dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emily-dickinson-2/) [Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garden/) [Gardening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gardening/) [Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riddle/)

## Related quotes

> [“At least to pray is left, is left. O Jesus! in the air I know not which thy chamber is, — I 'm knocking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/at-least-to-pray-is-left-is-left-o-jesus-in-the-air-i-know-not-which/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“Because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/because-i-could-not-stop-for-death-he-kindly-stopped-for-me/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“I miss you, mourn for you, and walk the streets alone- often at night, beside, I fall asleep in tears, for your dear face,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-miss-you-mourn-for-you-and-walk-the-streets-alone-often-at-night/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“I read my sentence steadily, Reviewed it with my eyes, To see that I made no mistake In its extremest clause, — The date,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-read-my-sentence-steadily-reviewed-it-with-my-eyes-to-see-that-i/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“That Love is all there is Is all we know of Love, It is enough, the freight should be Proportioned to the groove.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/that-love-is-all-there-is-is-all-we-know-of-love-it-is-enough-the/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“open me carefully”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/open-me-carefully/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“And somebody has lost the face That made existence home!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/and-somebody-has-lost-the-face-that-made-existence-home/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“Taken from men this morning, Carried by men to-day, Met by the gods with banners Who marshalled her away. One little maid from playmates,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/taken-from-men-this-morning-carried-by-men-to-day-met-by-the-gods/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“They dropped like flakes, they dropped like stars, Like petals from a rose, When suddenly across the June A wind with fingers goes. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/they-dropped-like-flakes-they-dropped-like-stars-like-petals-from-a/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“Going to heaven! I don't know when, Pray do not ask me how, — Indeed, I 'm too astonished To think of answering you!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/going-to-heaven-i-don-t-know-when-pray-do-not-ask-me-how-indeed-i-m/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“The wind tapped like a tired man, And like a host, "Come in," I boldly answered; entered then My residence within A rapid, footless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/the-wind-tapped-like-a-tired-man-and-like-a-host-come-in-i-boldly/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“I had no time to hate, because The grave would hinder me, . . . The little toil of love, I thought, Was large enough for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-had-no-time-to-hate-because-the-grave-would-hinder-me-the-little/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“Sweet hour, blessed hour, to carry me to you, and to bring you back to me, long enough to snatch one kiss, and whisper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/sweet-hour-blessed-hour-to-carry-me-to-you-and-to-bring-you-back-to/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“Oh Susie, I often think that I will try to tell you how very dear you are, and how I'm watching for you, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/oh-susie-i-often-think-that-i-will-try-to-tell-you-how-very-dear-you/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“Her breast is fit for pearls, But I was not a "Diver" - Her brow is fit for thrones But I have not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/her-breast-is-fit-for-pearls-but-i-was-not-a-diver-her-brow-is-fit/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

## More by Emily Dickinson

> [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [I could not prove the Years had feet-/Yet confident they run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-could-not-prove-the-years-had-feet-yet-confident-they-run/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [How softly summer shuts, without the creaking of a door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/how-softly-summer-shuts-without-the-creaking-of-a-door/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“Could you tell me how to grow--or is it unconveyed--like Melody--or Witchcraft?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/could-you-tell-me-how-to-grow-or-is-it-unconveyed-like-melody-or/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“Inebriate of Air — am I — And Debauchee of Dew — Reeling — thro endless summer days — From Inns of Molten Blue —”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/inebriate-of-air-am-i-and-debauchee-of-dew-reeling-thro-endless/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/luck-is-not-chance-it-s-toil-fortune-s-expensive-smile-is-earned/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [The abdication of Belief Makes the Behavior small- Better an ignis fatuus Than no illume at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/the-abdication-of-belief-makes-the-behavior-small-better-an-ignis/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [Longing is like a seed that wrestles in the ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/longing-is-like-a-seed-that-wrestles-in-the-ground/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“He ate and drank the precious words, His spirit grew robust; He knew no more that he was poor, Nor that his frame was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/he-ate-and-drank-the-precious-words-his-spirit-grew-robust-he-knew-no/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [I SEE thee better in the dark, I do not need a light. The love of thee a prism be Excelling violet. I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-see-thee-better-in-the-dark-i-do-not-need-a-light-the-love-of-thee/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [One step at a time is all it takes to get you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/one-step-at-a-time-is-all-it-takes-to-get-you-there/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“Whose fingers string the stalactite- Who counts the Wampum of the night”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/whose-fingers-string-the-stalactite-who-counts-the-wampum-of-the-night/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [My life closed twice before its close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/my-life-closed-twice-before-its-close/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [Until you have loved, you cannot become yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/until-you-have-loved-you-cannot-become-yourself/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

[Explore all 692 Emily Dickinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

## More Emily-dickinson quotes

> [“At least to pray is left, is left. O Jesus! in the air I know not which thy chamber is, — I 'm knocking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/at-least-to-pray-is-left-is-left-o-jesus-in-the-air-i-know-not-which/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“Call me crazy, but there is something terribly wrong with this city.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-reese-maher/call-me-crazy-but-there-is-something-terribly-wrong-with-this-city/)

[Nathan Reese Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-reese-maher/)

> [“Reading things that are relevant to the facts of your life is of limited value. The facts are, after all, only the facts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/reading-things-that-are-relevant-to-the-facts-of-your-life-is-of/)

[Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/)

> [“That’s a stupid name! Whirly-gig is much better, I think. Who in their right mind would point at this thing and say, ‘I’m going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-reese-maher/that-s-a-stupid-name-whirly-gig-is-much-better-i-think-who-in-their/)

[Nathan Reese Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-reese-maher/)

> [“Oh Susie, I often think that I will try to tell you how very dear you are, and how I'm watching for you, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/oh-susie-i-often-think-that-i-will-try-to-tell-you-how-very-dear-you/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“Oh phosphorescence. Now there’s a word to lift your hat to... To find that phosphorescence, that light within — is the genius behind poetry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-luce/oh-phosphorescence-now-there-s-a-word-to-lift-your-hat-to-to-find/)

William Luce

> [“Sweet hour, blessed hour, to carry me to you, and to bring you back to me, long enough to snatch one kiss, and whisper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/sweet-hour-blessed-hour-to-carry-me-to-you-and-to-bring-you-back-to/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“All she needs is to lay down a few sentences, sometimes just a few words, on paper to feel soothed, for a moment delivered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-fortier/all-she-needs-is-to-lay-down-a-few-sentences-sometimes-just-a-few/)

Dominique Fortier

> [“I had no time to hate, because The grave would hinder me, . . . The little toil of love, I thought, Was large enough for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-had-no-time-to-hate-because-the-grave-would-hinder-me-the-little/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

> [“History doesn’t start with a tall building and a card with your name written on it, but jokes do. I think someone is taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-reese-maher/history-doesn-t-start-with-a-tall-building-and-a-card-with-your-name/)

[Nathan Reese Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-reese-maher/)

> [“Taking Off Emily Dickinson’s Clothes" First, her tippet made of tulle, easily lifted off her shoulders and laid on the back of a wooden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/taking-off-emily-dickinson-s-clothes-first-her-tippet-made-of-tulle/)

[Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/)

> [“The longer you live, the harder it becomes. To grab them. Each little moment as it arrives. To be living in something other than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/the-longer-you-live-the-harder-it-becomes-to-grab-them-each-little/)

[Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/)

> [“I steal one glance over my shoulder as soon as we are far from the foreboding luminance of the neon glow, and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-reese-maher/i-steal-one-glance-over-my-shoulder-as-soon-as-we-are-far-from-the/)

[Nathan Reese Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-reese-maher/)

> [“There is a stillness between us, a period of restlessness that ties my stomach in a hangman’s noose. It is this same lack in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-reese-maher/there-is-a-stillness-between-us-a-period-of-restlessness-that-ties-my/)

[Nathan Reese Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-reese-maher/)

> [“They call each other ‘E.’ Elvis picks wildflowers near the river and brings them to Emily. She explains half-rhymes to him. In heaven Emily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-ostrom/they-call-each-other-e-elvis-picks-wildflowers-near-the-river-and/)

Hans Ostrom

[Browse all 41 Emily-dickinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emily-dickinson-2/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I have not told my garden yet, Lest that should conquer me; I have not quite the strength now To break it to the bee. I will not name it in the street, For shops would stare, that I, So shy, so very ignorant, Should have the face to die. The hillsides must not know it, Where I have rambled so, Nor tell the loving forests The day that I shall go, Nor lisp it at the table, Nor heedless by the way Hint that within the riddle One will walk to-day!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Emily Dickinson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-have-not-told-my-garden-yet-lest-that-should-conquer-me-i-have-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Emily-dickinson"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-have-not-told-my-garden-yet-lest-that-should-conquer-me-i-have-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/emily-dickinson-310_emily-dickinson_i-have-not-told-my-garden-yet-lest-that_1776451.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/emily-dickinson-310_emily-dickinson_i-have-not-told-my-garden-yet-lest-that_1776451.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b05/emily-dickinson-310_emily-dickinson_i-have-not-told-my-garden-yet-lest-that_1776451.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I have not told my garden yet, Lest that should conquer me; I have not quite the strength now To break it to…” — Emily Dickinson",
                "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": "Emily Dickinson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I have not told my garden...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-have-not-told-my-garden-yet-lest-that-should-conquer-me-i-have-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-have-not-told-my-garden-yet-lest-that-should-conquer-me-i-have-not/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
