The art of our necessities is strange, That can make vile things precious.

The art of our necessities is strange, That can make vile things precious.

Necessity never made a good bargain

Necessity never made a good bargain

My steps have pressed the flowers,
That to the Muses' bowers
The eternal dews of Helicon have read more

My steps have pressed the flowers,
That to the Muses' bowers
The eternal dews of Helicon have given:
And trod the mountain height,
Where Science, young and bright,
Scans with poetic gaze the midnight-heaven.
Yet have I found no power to vie
With thine, severe necessity!

So spake the Fiend, and with necessity,
The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deed.

So spake the Fiend, and with necessity,
The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deed.

We do what we must, and call it by the best names.

We do what we must, and call it by the best names.

Necessity is the mother of invention, it is true -- but it's father is creativity, and knowledge is the midwife.

Necessity is the mother of invention, it is true -- but it's father is creativity, and knowledge is the midwife.

By necessity, by proclivity, and by delight, we all quote. In fact it is as difficult to appropriate the thoughts read more

By necessity, by proclivity, and by delight, we all quote. In fact it is as difficult to appropriate the thoughts of others as it is to invent.

The graveyards are full of indispensable men.

The graveyards are full of indispensable men.

Men try to run life according to their wishes; life runs itself according to necessity.

Men try to run life according to their wishes; life runs itself according to necessity.