quotations about necessity
Oh! marvellous, O stupendous Necessity -- by thy laws thou dost compel every effect to be the direct result of its cause, by the shortest path. These are miracles.
LEONARDO DA VINCI
Notebooks
Necessity of action takes away the fear of the act, and makes bold resolution the favorite of fortune.
FRANCIS QUARLES
Enchiridion
Most of us do not have incomes large enough to provide both the things we need and the things we want. We are forced to choose between our necessities and our luxuries. And, very foolishly, we choose to offer up the luxuries. Thus our existence becomes dull and monotonous. We can hardly be said really to live: our lives are lived for us--cut out and sewed together by the habits and customs of the class to which we belong.
BRUCE FAIRCHILD BARTON
More Power to You
Necessity dispenseth with decorum.
THOMAS FULLER
Gnomologia
Necessity is not an established fact, but an interpretation.
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
The Will to Power
You fight when the necessity arises -- no matter the mood! Mood's a thing for cattle or making love or playing the baliset. It's not for fighting.
FRANK HERBERT
Dune
Now sit we close about this taper here,
And call in question our necessities.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Julius Caesar
Necessity often has a brow of despair.
EDWARD COUNSEL
Maxims
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
Necessity imposes law, but does not herself receive it.
PUBLIUS SYRUS
attributed, Day's Collacon
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
Whatever sorrows may be thy doom, bear them with patience, if necessity entail them.
HOMER
attributed, Day's Collacon
A grand necessity elevates man; a small one degrades him.
L. J. NIVERNAIS
attributed, Day's Collacon
Necessity does the work of courage.
GEORGE ELIOT
Romola
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
Necessity when threatening is more powerful than device of man.
QUINTUS CURTIUS RUFUS
De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni
Necessity's sharp pinch!
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
King Lear
Necessity -- thou best of peacemakers,
As well as surest prompter of invention.
WALTER SCOTT
Peveril of the Peak
I don't think necessity is the mother of invention -- invention, in my opinion, arises directly from idleness, possibly also from laziness. To save oneself trouble.
AGATHA CHRISTIE
An Autobiography
Even the gods are unable to contend against necessity.
SIMONIDES
attributed, Day's Collacon