The merit of originality is not novelty; it is sincerity.

The merit of originality is not novelty; it is sincerity.

There are no days in life so memorable as those which vibrated to some stroke of the imagination.

There are no days in life so memorable as those which vibrated to some stroke of the imagination.

All profoundly original art looks ugly at first.

All profoundly original art looks ugly at first.

... 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.

Most people are more comfortable with old problems than with new solutions.

Most people are more comfortable with old problems than with new solutions.

You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.

You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.

The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same read more

The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.

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 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.