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!

Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the read more

Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.

To make necessity a virtue (a virtue of necessity).
[Lat., Necessitatem in virtutem commutarum.]

To make necessity a virtue (a virtue of necessity).
[Lat., Necessitatem in virtutem commutarum.]

It is necessity and not pleasure that compels us.
[It., Necessita c'induce, e non diletto.]

It is necessity and not pleasure that compels us.
[It., Necessita c'induce, e non diletto.]

It is bad to live for necessity; but there is no necessity to
live in necessity.
[Lat., Malum read more

It is bad to live for necessity; but there is no necessity to
live in necessity.
[Lat., Malum est necessitati vivere; sed in necessitate vivere
necessitas nulla est.]

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.

He who would eat the kernel, must crack the shell.
[Lat., Qui e nuce nucleum esse vult, frangat nucem.]

He who would eat the kernel, must crack the shell.
[Lat., Qui e nuce nucleum esse vult, frangat nucem.]

If people should ever start to do only what is necessary millions would die of hunger.

If people should ever start to do only what is necessary millions would die of hunger.

Necessity never made a good bargain.

Necessity never made a good bargain.