You May Also Like / View all maxioms
 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.] 
Necessity is the mother of invention, it is true, but its father is creativity, and knowledge is the midwife
Necessity is the mother of invention, it is true, but its father is creativity, and knowledge is the midwife
 No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose
 To wage against the emnity o' th' air,
  To read more 
 No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose
 To wage against the emnity o' th' air,
  To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,
   Necessity's sharp pinch. 
 Necessity is the last and strongest weapon.
 [Lat., Necessitas ultimum et maximum telum est.]  
 Necessity is the last and strongest weapon.
 [Lat., Necessitas ultimum et maximum telum est.] 
 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! 
It is surprising what a man can do when he has to, and how little most men will do when read more
It is surprising what a man can do when he has to, and how little most men will do when they don't have to.
 Necessity when threatening is more powerful than device of man.
 [Lat., Efficacior omni arte imminens necessitas.]  
 Necessity when threatening is more powerful than device of man.
 [Lat., Efficacior omni arte imminens necessitas.] 
 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. 
Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure read more
Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow