“To Source live is so startling, it leaves but little room for other occupations.”
Emily Dickinson Museum – Official Site
Emily Dickinson possessed a unique ability to capture the sheer intensity of existence. She viewed life not as a passive state, but as an overwhelming force. Consequently, she felt that the act of simply being alive demanded our full attention. This profound observation suggests that our daily routines often distract us from the miracle of consciousness.
Dickinson articulated this sentiment during a specific period of her life. She shared these words in her correspondence, revealing her inner philosophy. Specifically, she explored how the magnitude of living overshadows mundane tasks. Her words invite us to reconsider our priorities. We often fill our schedules with “occupations.” However, Dickinson argues that the experience of life itself constitutes a full-time job.
Uncovering the Authentic Source
Scholars trace this famous line to a specific historical document. Source Dickinson penned this observation in a letter during the winter of 1871. She addressed this correspondence to Thomas Wentworth Higginson. He served as her literary mentor and a close confidant. Eventually, Mabel Loomis Todd edited and published this letter in 1894. The collection, titled “Letters of Emily Dickinson,” brought this insight to the public eye. .
Interestingly, the popular version of this quote often omits its conclusion. Dickinson actually finished the sentence with a tribute to human connection. The full text reads: “To live is so startling, it leaves but little room for other occupations, though friends are, if possible, an event more fair.”
This complete version adds a layer of warmth to her philosophy. While existence startles us with its power, friendship rivals that intensity. She places human connection on the same pedestal as life itself. Therefore, knowing the full context enriches our understanding of her values.
Variations in Modern Culture
Over the decades, writers and editors have modified Dickinson’s original phrasing. A simplified version emerged in the mid-20th century. This variation reads: “To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.”
Rumer Godden, an English author, likely popularized this alteration. In 1968, she released a collection titled “A Letter To the World: Poems for Young Readers.” In her introduction, she used the shortened phrase without a specific citation.
Godden may have paraphrased the quote for clarity. Alternatively, she might have relied on memory. Regardless, her version resonated with readers. Subsequently, other publications adopted this simplified wording. For example, a teacher’s almanac from 1975 used the modified quote.
Later compilations continued this trend. However, accuracy eventually returned to the forefront. By 1996, reference books like “The New Beacon Book of Quotations by Women” restored the original text. These editors correctly cited the 1894 edition of Dickinson’s letters. Thus, we can now appreciate the poet’s specific word choice, including her use of “occupations” rather than “time.”
Dickinson’s Philosophy of Awe
This quote aligns perfectly with Dickinson’s broader worldview. She consistently expressed awe at the mere fact of existence. In fact, she shared similar thoughts with Higginson during a personal visit.
Higginson visited the poet in August 1870. He later documented their conversation for “The Atlantic Monthly.” During this meeting, Dickinson made a striking declaration. She told him, “I find ecstacy in living; the mere sense of living is joy enough.”
This statement reinforces the sentiment in her 1871 letter. For Dickinson, life did not require external events to be exciting. The internal experience of consciousness provided sufficient drama. She found joy in the simple act of breathing and perceiving.
Furthermore, she questioned the nature of memory and truth during that same conversation. She asked, “Is it oblivion or absorption when things pass from our minds?” These questions reveal a mind constantly analyzing the human experience. Therefore, her claim that life leaves “little room for other occupations” reflects a genuine, lived reality for the poet.
Conclusion
Emily Dickinson challenges us to wake up to our own lives. We often sleepwalk through our days, distracted by minor obligations. In contrast, she viewed existence as a startling, all-consuming event.
Her words remind us that “occupations” are secondary. The primary task is to fully inhabit our lives. Moreover, her full quote reminds us to cherish the friends who make that journey “more fair.” Ultimately, Dickinson teaches us that paying attention to life is the most important work we can do.