quotations about necessity
Necessity imposes law, but does not herself receive it.
PUBLIUS SYRUS
attributed, Day's Collacon
Necessity when threatening is more powerful than device of man.
QUINTUS CURTIUS RUFUS
De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni
When we are incapable of recognizing the laws of necessity, we believe ourselves to be free.
LUDWIG BÖME
attributed, Geary's Guide to the World's Great Aphorists
I hold that mortal foolish who strives against the stress of necessity.
EURIPIDES
Hercules Furens
Necessity has a way of obliterating from our conduct various delicate scruples regarding honor and pride.
WILLIAM FAULKNER
Absalom, Absalom!
No picture of life can have any veracity that does not admit the odious facts. A man's power is hooped in by necessity, which by many experiments, he touches on every side, until he learns its arc.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
The Conduct of Life
Stern is the on-look of necessity. Not without a shudder may the hand of man grasp the mysterious urn of destiny.
FRIEDRICH SCHILLER
The Death of Wallenstein
Constant and exclusive devotion to mere physical necessities, degrades man to the rank of an animal.
FELICITE ROBERT DE LAMENNAIS
The People's Own Book
Now sit we close about this taper here,
And call in question our necessities.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Julius Caesar
From blind physical necessity, which is always and everywhere the same, no variety adhering to time and place could evolve, and all variety of created objects which represent order and life in the universe could happen only by the willful reasoning of its original Creator, Whom I call the Lord God.
ISAAC NEWTON
attributed, Our Humanist Heritage
A grand necessity elevates man; a small one degrades him.
L. J. NIVERNAIS
attributed, Day's Collacon
We give to necessity the praise of virtue.
QUINTILIAN
Institutio Oratoria
Necessity is not an established fact, but an interpretation.
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
The Will to Power
Necessity is a sore penance; and extremity is as hard to bear as death.
CANTACUZENUS
attributed, Day's Collacon
Necessity does the work of courage.
GEORGE ELIOT
Romola
Necessity sharpens industry.
A. L. LAVOISIER
attributed, Day's Collacon
Nothing is more necessary than the unnecessary.
ROBERTO BENIGNI
Life Is Beautiful
Even the gods are unable to contend against necessity.
SIMONIDES
attributed, Day's Collacon
Whatever sorrows may be thy doom, bear them with patience, if necessity entail them.
HOMER
attributed, Day's Collacon
Necessity seeks bread where it is to be found.
SALIS
attributed, Day's Collacon