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Emma Lazarus

37quotes

Emma Lazarus: A Life of Passion, Poetry, and Philanthropy


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Full Name and Common Aliases

Emma Lazarus was a Jewish-American poet, writer, and advocate for social justice. Her full name is Emma Lazarus, but she is often referred to as the "Poet of Liberty" due to her iconic sonnet "The New Colossus," which has become synonymous with freedom and hope.

Birth and Death Dates

Emma Lazarus was born on July 22, 1849, in New York City to a wealthy Jewish family. She passed away on November 19, 1887, at the age of 38 due to complications from tuberculosis.

Nationality and Profession(s)

Lazarus was an American poet, writer, and advocate for social justice. She was a member of the prominent Jewish-American Lazarus family and was raised in a household that valued education, literature, and philanthropy.

Early Life and Background

Emma grew up in a world where women's roles were limited, but her family encouraged her to pursue her passion for writing and learning. Her father, Moses Samuel Lazarus, was a successful businessman who supported Emma's education at the female seminary of the Hebrew Education Society. Emma's mother, Esther Nathan Lazarus, was a strong advocate for women's rights and had a significant influence on her daughter's early life.

As a young woman, Emma was deeply affected by the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 and the struggles of European Jews during that time. This exposure instilled in her a sense of compassion and empathy for those suffering under oppression.

Major Accomplishments

Emma's literary career spanned over two decades and included numerous collections of poetry, essays, and translations. Her most notable works include:

The Poems of Emma Lazarus (1867) - This collection showcased her early talent as a poet.
 Admetus and Other Poems (1871) - This book explored themes of love, loss, and social justice.
Alide: An Episode in a Distant Country (1883) - A novel that dealt with issues of identity, faith, and belonging.

Notable Works or Actions

One of Emma's most significant contributions to literature is her sonnet "The New Colossus," which was written in 1883. This poem has become an iconic representation of freedom and hope for immigrants seeking a new life in the United States:

"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land!
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
'Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!' cries she
With silent lips. 'Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!'

This poem has inspired generations and continues to be a powerful symbol of American values.

Impact and Legacy

Emma Lazarus's life and work had a profound impact on her contemporaries and continue to inspire people today. Her commitment to social justice, her use of literature as a tool for activism, and her unwavering dedication to promoting freedom and equality have left an enduring legacy.

Her most notable legacy is the pedestal inscription at the Statue of Liberty, which was chosen from among 20,000 submissions in 1903:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

This poem has become synonymous with the American Dream and continues to inspire people from around the world.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered

Emma Lazarus's life and work continue to captivate readers today due to her:

Commitment to social justice: Her advocacy for women's rights, education, and immigrant rights has inspired countless individuals.
Literary talent: Her poetry and essays have been celebrated for their beauty, emotion, and depth.
 Unwavering dedication: Her selfless work on behalf of others has left a lasting impact on her community and the world.

In conclusion, Emma Lazarus was a remarkable woman who used her talents to make a difference in the world. Her legacy continues to inspire people today, serving as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, empathy, and social justice.

Quotes by Emma Lazarus

The little and the great are joined in one By God’s great force. The wondrous golden sun Is linked unto the glow-worm’s tiny spark; The eagle soars to heaven in his flight; And in those realms of space, all bathed in light, Soar none except the eagle and the lark.
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The little and the great are joined in one By God’s great force. The wondrous golden sun Is linked unto the glow-worm’s tiny spark; The eagle soars to heaven in his flight; And in those realms of space, all bathed in light, Soar none except the eagle and the lark.
EL
The soul, at peace, reflects the peace without, Forgetting grief as sunset skies forget The morning’s transient shower.
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The soul, at peace, reflects the peace without, Forgetting grief as sunset skies forget The morning’s transient shower.
EL
When angels visit earth, the messengers Of God’s decree, they come as lightning, wind: Before the throne, they all are living fire.
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When angels visit earth, the messengers Of God’s decree, they come as lightning, wind: Before the throne, they all are living fire.
EL
No man had ever heard a nightingale, When once a keen-eyed naturalist was stirred To study and define – what is a bird.
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No man had ever heard a nightingale, When once a keen-eyed naturalist was stirred To study and define – what is a bird.
EL
Thou two-faced year, Mother of Change and Fate...
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Thou two-faced year, Mother of Change and Fate...
EL
Life’s sharpest rapture is surcease of pain.
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Life’s sharpest rapture is surcease of pain.
EL
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
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Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
EL
#inspirational
Let our first care today be the re-establishment of our physical strength, the reconstruction of our national organism, so that in future, where the respect due to us cannot be won by entreaty, it may be commanded, and where it cannot be commanded, it may be enforced.
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Let our first care today be the re-establishment of our physical strength, the reconstruction of our national organism, so that in future, where the respect due to us cannot be won by entreaty, it may be commanded, and where it cannot be commanded, it may be enforced.
EL
#care
Kindle the taper like the steadfast star Ablaze on evening's forehead o'er the earth, And add each night a lustre till afar An eightfold splendor shine above thy hearth.
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Kindle the taper like the steadfast star Ablaze on evening's forehead o'er the earth, And add each night a lustre till afar An eightfold splendor shine above thy hearth.
EL
#stars
The Jewish problem is as old as history, and assumes in each age a new form. The life or death of millions of human beings hangs upon its solution; its agitation revives the fiercest passions for good and for evil that inflame the human breast.
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The Jewish problem is as old as history, and assumes in each age a new form. The life or death of millions of human beings hangs upon its solution; its agitation revives the fiercest passions for good and for evil that inflame the human breast.
EL
#passion
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