Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and read more

Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity.

Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.

Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.

First, I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my read more

First, I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my mind. If it were clear in my mind, I should have no incentive or need to write about it. We do not write in order to be understood; we write in order to understand.

... not picked from the leaves of any author, but bred amongst the weeds and tares of mine own brain.

... not picked from the leaves of any author, but bred amongst the weeds and tares of mine own brain.

Creativity is essentially a lonely art. An even lonelier struggle. To some a blessing. To others a curse. It is read more

Creativity is essentially a lonely art. An even lonelier struggle. To some a blessing. To others a curse. It is in reality the ability to reach inside yourself and drag forth from your very soul an idea.

The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.

The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.

The creative person wants to be a know -it -all. He wants to know about all kinds of things: ancient read more

The creative person wants to be a know -it -all. He wants to know about all kinds of things: ancient history, nineteenth -century mathematics, current manufacturing techniques, flower arranging, and hog futures. Because he never knows when these ideas might come together to form a new idea. It may happen six minutes later or six months, or six years down the road. But he has faith that it will happen.

We try not to have ideas, preferring accidents. To create, you must empty yourself of every artistic thought.

We try not to have ideas, preferring accidents. To create, you must empty yourself of every artistic thought.

It is not good enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.

It is not good enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.