What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore -
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over -
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

Langston Hughes

Harlem

Read Harlem at Poetry Foundation

More information about this quote

Topic

Broken dreams Dreams

Author

Langston Hughes

Source

Harlem

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Question

Language

English

Time

1951 1950s 20th century

Occupation

Black writer Black poet Poet Writer

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Hughes, Langston. "Harlem." Montage of a Dream Deferred. Holt, 1951.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Langston Hughes about broken dreams: “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in…”
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A quote by Langston Hughes about broken dreams: “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in…”
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A quote by Langston Hughes about broken dreams: “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 1950s

I asked a Burmese why women, after centuries of following their men, now walk ahead. He said there were many unexploded land mines since the war.

Robert Mueller

More information about this quote
Topic
Oppression of women
Speaker
Robert Mueller
Source
Look Magazine
Medium
Magazine
Language
English
Time
1957 1950s 20th century
Authentication Score 1
Citation

Mueller, Robert. Quoted in Look Magazine. 5 Mar. 1957.

Another quote of the following type Question

Was ever book containing such vile matter
So fairly bound? O, that deceit should dwell
In such a gorgeous palace!

William Shakespeare

Buy Romeo and Juliet at Amazon Buy Romeo and Juliet at Amazon
Read Romeo and Juliet at The Folger Shakespeare Library
More information about this quote
Topic
Beauty is skin deep Looks are deceiving Beauty Appearance vs. reality
Speaker
Juliet Capulet

Author

William Shakespeare
Genre
Tragedy (play)
Statement Type
Question Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1597 1590s 16th century
Era
European Renaissance
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. London: John Danter, 1597, act 3, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Romeo and Juliet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 2.