More from Matsuo Basho
The moon is brighter since the barn burned.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho Calm and serene The sound of a cicada Penetrates the rock.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho Spring rain leaking through the roof dripping from the wasps’ nest.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho Summer grasses — all that remains of great soldiers’ imperial dreams.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho Before enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water. After enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho Learn the rules, and then forget them.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho Go to the pine if you want to learn about the pine, or to the bamboo if you want to learn about the bamboo. And in doing so, you must leave your subjective preoccupation with yourself. Otherwise you impose yourself on the object and you do not learn.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho Don’t imitate me / we are not two halves / of a muskmelon.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho This autumn- why am I growing old? bird disappearing among clouds.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho Farewell, my old fan. / Having scribbled on it, / What could I do but tear it / At the end of summer?
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho Awakened at midnight by the sound of the water jar cracking from the ice.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho Old pond, leap-splash – a frog.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho No matter where your interest lies, you will not be able to accomplish anything unless you bring your deepest devotion to it.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho A weathered skeleton in windy fields of memory, piercing like a knife.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho Every moment of life is the last, every poem is a death poem.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho Come, butterfly It’s late- We’ve miles to go together.
Matsuo BashoMatsuo Basho
Original quotes
From our community writers
I am the universe, and every possibility belongs to me.
Courtney PeppernellCourtney Peppernell The only thing that changed about you is me.
Elaine HaysElaine Hays He is my heaven and my hell. Serving passion and poison with the same spoon, and i am a sucker for a taste.
Laura Natoli-KearneyLaura Natoli-Kearney My mistakes tell me I am quite human, but my brief flashes of brilliance tell me I am divine, too.
Rachel WolchinRachel Wolchin She now finds solace in vanilla-scented daydreams, as her soul sings away in a musical symphony of humid breaths and well-favored smiles.
Megan LaoMegan Lao Some things won’t change-some things can’t.
Julia Kellogg HenryJulia Kellogg Henry My blood is fifty percent alcohol the other half was you.
Chris AllchinChris Allchin Darling, you don’t fear love, you fear of loving wrong.
C.R. ElliottC.R. Elliott
Meet the writers
More on face
Life is just a game in which the cards are facing down. I’m in the world where things are taken, never given how long they choose to love you will never be your decision.
DrakeDrake In the face of pain there are no heroes.
George OrwellGeorge Orwell The older you get, the stronger the wind gets and it’s always in your face.
Pablo PicassoPablo Picasso To love another person is to see the face of God.
Victor HugoVictor Hugo Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.
James BaldwinJames Baldwin Nothing you face can keep you from your purpose.
Joel OsteenJoel Osteen Time marches on and sooner or later you realize it is marching across your face.
Dolly PartonDolly Parton The memory of the Saints leads us to raise our eyes to Heaven: not to forget the realities of the earth, but to face them with more courage and hope.
Pope FrancisPope Francis