The artistic impulse seems not to wish to produce finished work. It certainly deserts us half-way, after the idea is born; and if we go on, it is labor.
As to modesty and decency, if we are simians we have done well, considering: but if we are something else-fallen angels-we have indeed fallen far.
This is a hard and precarious world, where every mistake and infirmity must be paid for in full.
The poets of each generation seldom sing a new song. They turn to themes men always have loved, and sing them in the mode of their times.
The first thing the world does to a genius is to make him lose all his youth.
Tender are a mother’s dreams, But her babe’s not what he seems. See him plotting in his mind To grow up some other kind.
Will and wisdom are both mighty leaders. Our times worship will.
The worshipper of energy is too physically energetic to see that he cannot explore certain higher fields until he is still.
I was different unique and always happy. At school this attracted playground harassment. Nowadays, while I remain effervescent, quicker to perceive enmity I reserve my warmest touches and smiles for those who smolder with envy.
The egg it is the source of all To everyone’s ancestral hall.
Father expected a good deal of God. He didn’t actually accuse God of inefficiency, but when he prayed his tone was loud and angry, like that of a dissatisfied guest in a carelessly managed hotel.
The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man.
If you don’t go to other men’s funerals, they won’t go to yours.
If your parents didn’t have any children, there’s a good chance that you won’t have any.
Babies are unreasonable; they expect far too much of existence. Each new generation that comes takes one look at the world and thinks wildly, “Is this all they’ve done to it?” and bursts into tears.
As time goes on, new and remoter aspects of truth are discovered which can seldom be fitted into creeds that are changeless.
A universe capable of giving birth to many such accidents is – blind or not – a good world to live in, a promising universe.
Real friendships among men are so rare that when they occur they are famous.
When eras die, their legacies Are left to strange police. Professors in New England guard The glory that was Greece.
Elephants suffer from too much patience. Their exhibitions of it may seem superb,-such power and such restraint, combined, are noble,-but a quality carried to excess defeats itself.
Creatures whose mainspring is curiosity enjoy the accumulating of facts far more than the pausing at times to reflect on those facts.