Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s quote expresses the depth and endurance of her love. By referring to smiles and tears, she highlights the full spectrum of emotions she has experienced throughout her life, particularly in the context of her love for another person. The phrase "if God choose" acknowledges the uncertainty of life and death, while also expressing her faith in the possibility that her love will continue to grow even after death. The statement suggests that her love is eternal and will transcend even the physical boundaries of life, continuing after her passing.

Browning, a renowned Victorian poet, is known for her passionate and deeply emotional poetry, much of which revolves around the themes of love, devotion, and spirituality. In this quote, she emphasizes that love is not just a fleeting emotion, but something that persists through both joy and sorrow, enduring even in the face of death. Her use of God here also introduces the idea of divine love and how earthly love might mirror or reflect a higher, more eternal connection.

The line "I shall but love thee better after death" reflects a belief in the continuity of love beyond life, suggesting that love does not end with death but evolves into something even more profound. This idea of eternal love is a common theme in Browning’s works, especially in her famous sonnet sequence Sonnets from the Portuguese, which was written to her husband, the poet Robert Browning. Her words here encapsulate her belief in the immortality of love and its transcendence beyond the material world.

The origin of this quote is from Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnets from the Portuguese, a collection of poems she wrote during her courtship and marriage to Robert Browning. These poems reflect her intense emotions and deep romantic attachment, and in this particular line, she expresses her unwavering commitment and love, which she believes will continue after death. The quote highlights Browning’s idealistic and spiritual view of love, which transcends both time and physical existence.