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.

Necessity is the author of change

Necessity is the author of change

Art imitates nature, and necessity is the mother of invention.

Art imitates nature, and necessity is the mother of invention.

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 never made a good bargain

Necessity never made a good bargain

Without death and decay, how could life go on?

Without death and decay, how could life go on?

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.

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.]

Nothing has more strength than dire necessity.

Nothing has more strength than dire necessity.