Who said “The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our…”?

Verified

William Wordsworth. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe World Is Too Much with Us, l. 1 (wr. 1802; pub. 1807)

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“The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: Little we see in Nature that is ours.”
VerifiedThe World Is Too Much with Us, l. 1 (wr. 1802; pub. 1807) · evidenceWorld
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The World Is Too Much with Us, l. 1 (wr. 1802; pub. 1807).

APA

Wordsworth, W. (n.d.). The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: Little we see in Nature that is ours. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42708-the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late/

MLA

Wordsworth, William. “The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: Little we see in Nature that is ours.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42708-the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Wordsworth, William. “The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: Little we see in Nature that is ours.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42708-the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late/.