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 dispenseth with decorum.

Necessity dispenseth with decorum.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

It is in these useless and superfluous things that I am rich and
happy.

It is in these useless and superfluous things that I am rich and
happy.

Our necessities are few but our wants are endless.

Our necessities are few but our wants are endless.

Now we sit close about this taper here
And call in question our necessities.

Now we sit close about this taper here
And call in question our necessities.

Everywhere the human soul stands between a hemisphere of light and another of darkness; on the confines of the two read more

Everywhere the human soul stands between a hemisphere of light and another of darkness; on the confines of the two everlasting empires, necessity and free will.

Stern is the visage of necessity.
[Ger., Ernst ist der Anblick der Nothwendigkeit.]

Stern is the visage of necessity.
[Ger., Ernst ist der Anblick der Nothwendigkeit.]

Thanne is it wysdom, as thynketh me,
To maken vertu of necessite,
And take it weel, that read more

Thanne is it wysdom, as thynketh me,
To maken vertu of necessite,
And take it weel, that we may not eschu,
And namely that that to us alle is due.