Quotes from Biographia Epistolaris, Volumen 1

My mind has been in a most disturbed and comfortless state for two years, and I have found neither strength nor peace except in the act of composition.

Context: This is from a letter to Josiah Wade (1801). Coleridge confesses his deep emotional and psychological distress to a trusted friend, highlighting how writing provided his only solace amidst his personal turmoil and early struggles with opium.

He is a great, a most original poet; and I am a great reader, a laborious thinker; and so we are natural allies.

Context: Coleridge writes to Thomas Poole (1799) describing his intellectual partnership with William Wordsworth. This quote encapsulates their collaborative spirit and the complementary nature of their genius during their most productive period.

My life has been one long illness, a long agony, and my very thoughts are diseased.

Context: This powerful statement, found in various letters from the early 1800s, reveals the extent of his physical pain and mental anguish. He attributes his suffering largely to his opium addiction, confessing his prolonged torment and its impact on his mind.

I have for these last two years been in an almost incessant struggle with the direful fiend of procrastination.

Context: In a letter to Robert Southey (1803), Coleridge laments his inability to complete projects and fulfill his potential. This quote vividly portrays his constant battle against his own lack of discipline and the resulting self-reproach.

I have an indistinct, yet a strong, sense of what I mean to do and become. But it is dim, a mere presentiment, not a clear prospect.

Context: This quote, reflecting sentiments from various letters around 1800-1801, shows Coleridge's characteristic blend of grand intellectual ambition and profound self-doubt. He expresses a powerful inner drive coupled with a lack of clear direction.

The present times are indeed awful; I hope they will make men think.

Context: From a letter (e.g., to Thomas Wedgwood, 1799), Coleridge comments on the turbulent political and social climate of his era, marked by revolutions and wars. He expresses a hope that these significant events will inspire deeper reflection and intellectual engagement in humanity.

My dear little Hartley! He is a spirit, a poet's son, and Wordsworth's darling.

Context: In a letter to Robert Southey (1800), Coleridge fondly describes his eldest son, Hartley. This quote highlights his deep affection and admiration for the child, seeing in him a nascent poetic sensibility and linking him to his cherished friend, Wordsworth.

I have a mind, it is true; and it is an active mind; but it is a diseased mind, one that has lost the power of originating.

Context: This is from a letter to Daniel Stuart (1803), where Coleridge reflects on his mental state and his struggles with creativity. He acknowledges his intellectual activity but laments a perceived decline in his ability to generate original thought due to illness.

I am trying to learn German, and I find it the most infernal language I ever attempted.

Context: In a letter, likely to Thomas Wedgwood (1799), Coleridge humorously yet genuinely expresses his frustration with learning German. This quote illustrates his dedication to intellectual pursuits, even while struggling with the language crucial for engaging with German Idealist philosophy.

I pour out my heart to you, my dear friend, as to a true brother.

Context: This quote encapsulates the deep intimacy and trust Coleridge often shared with his closest correspondents, such as Thomas Poole or Robert Southey, throughout his letters. It highlights the role of letters as a confessional space for his innermost thoughts and feelings.