One writes to make a home for oneself, on paper, in time and in others' minds.

One writes to make a home for oneself, on paper, in time and in others' minds.

O, my lord,
You said that idle weeds are fast in growth:
The prince my brother hath read more

O, my lord,
You said that idle weeds are fast in growth:
The prince my brother hath outgrown me far.

Arts and sciences are not cast in a mould, but are found and
perfected by degrees, by often handling read more

Arts and sciences are not cast in a mould, but are found and
perfected by degrees, by often handling and polishing, as bears
leisurely lick their clubs into shape.

The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean

The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean

In a narrow circle the mind contracts.
Man grows with his expanded needs.
[Ger., Im engen Kreis read more

In a narrow circle the mind contracts.
Man grows with his expanded needs.
[Ger., Im engen Kreis verengert sich der Sinn.
Es wachst der Mensch mit seinen grossern Zwecken.]

It is not growing like a tree
In bulk, doth make man better be;
Or standing long read more

It is not growing like a tree
In bulk, doth make man better be;
Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:
A lily of a day
Is fairer far in May,
Although it falls and die that night--
It was the plant and flower of Light.

Miss not the discourse of the elders.

Miss not the discourse of the elders.

I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works.

I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works.

It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.

It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.