Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Date of Birth: November 5, 1850

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: October 30, 1919

Biography

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet, born on November 5, 1850, in Johnstown, Wisconsin. She displayed a talent for writing from an early age, publishing her first poem when she was just eight years old. Wilcox’s work is characterized by its optimistic and inspirational tone, often addressing themes like love, faith, and the power of positive thinking. Her most famous work, “Poems of Passion,” published in 1883, was initially controversial due to its candid treatment of love and romance but went on to become a bestseller. Wilcox’s poem “Solitude,” which begins with the famous line “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone,” epitomizes her philosophy of life and remains widely quoted. Throughout her life, Wilcox was a prolific writer, contributing poems, articles, and essays to various publications. Her work enjoyed immense popularity during her lifetime, and she was one of the best-known poets in America at the time. Wilcox married Robert Wilcox in 1884, and the couple enjoyed a happy partnership until his death in 1916. She continued to write and publish until her death on October 30, 1919, in Short Beach, Connecticut.

5 Interesting Facts about Ella Wheeler Wilcox

1. Ella Wheeler Wilcox wrote her first poem at the age of eight.

2. Her collection “Poems of Passion” faced initial criticism but later became a bestseller.

3. Wilcox’s poem “Solitude” remains one of the most quoted poems in American literature.

4. She was a spiritualist and believed in the power of positive thinking, which influenced her writing.

5. Wilcox was a prolific writer, contributing to various newspapers and magazines throughout her career.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ella Wheeler Wilcox

1. “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.”

2. “Love lights more fires than hate extinguishes.”

3. “To sin by silence, when we should protest, makes cowards out of men.”

4. “A weed is but an unloved flower.”

5. “The truest greatness lies in being kind, the truest wisdom in a happy mind.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While precise figures for her net worth are unavailable, Ella Wheeler Wilcox was one of the most commercially successful poets of her time, earning a comfortable income from her writing.