quotations about necessity
A grand necessity elevates man; a small one degrades him.
L. J. NIVERNAIS
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attributed, Day's Collacon
Sheer necessity -- the proper parent of an art so nearly allied to invention.
RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN
The Critic
Necessity seeks bread where it is to be found.
SALIS
attributed, Day's Collacon
Necessity may be the mother of lucrative invention; but is the death of poetical.
WILLIAM SHENSTONE
Essays on Men and Manners
Whatever sorrows may be thy doom, bear them with patience, if necessity entail them.
HOMER
attributed, Day's Collacon
The rule of necessity is a rule of law which states that necessity knows no law.... So the rule of necessity overrides all other laws. It in fact allows one to do that which would normally be against the law.
ROBERT PATRICK
"Technically, we are still in a state of emergency", Victoria Advocate, July 28, 2017
Necessity dispenseth with decorum.
THOMAS FULLER
Gnomologia
Necessity -- thou best of peacemakers,
As well as surest prompter of invention.
WALTER SCOTT
Peveril of the Peak
From blind physical necessity, which is always and everywhere the same, no variety adhering to time and place could evolve, and all variety of created objects which represent order and life in the universe could happen only by the willful reasoning of its original Creator, Whom I call the Lord God.
ISAAC NEWTON
attributed, Our Humanist Heritage
As for "necessity" not based on reason but on pleasure, he declared that it was a sign of a spirit that was extinguished.
THOMAS OF CELANO
The Life of Saint Francis
I don't think necessity is the mother of invention -- invention, in my opinion, arises directly from idleness, possibly also from laziness. To save oneself trouble.
AGATHA CHRISTIE
An Autobiography
Necessity is a strong rider with sharp spurs, who maketh the sorry jade do that which the strongest horse sometimes will not do.
CALANUS
attributed, Day's Collacon
Necessity often has a brow of despair.
EDWARD COUNSEL
Maxims
Constant and exclusive devotion to mere physical necessities, degrades man to the rank of an animal.
FELICITE ROBERT DE LAMENNAIS
The People's Own Book
Necessity of action takes away the fear of the act, and makes bold resolution the favorite of fortune.
FRANCIS QUARLES
Enchiridion
Oh! marvellous, O stupendous Necessity -- by thy laws thou dost compel every effect to be the direct result of its cause, by the shortest path. These are miracles.
LEONARDO DA VINCI
Notebooks
Necessity imposes law, but does not herself receive it.
PUBLIUS SYRUS
attributed, Day's Collacon
Necessity does the work of courage.
GEORGE ELIOT
Romola
Necessity hath no law. Feigned necessities, imaginary necessities ... are the greatest cozenage that men can put upon the Providence of God, and make pretences to break known rules by.
OLIVER CROMWELL
speech to Parliament, September 12, 1654
Necessity when threatening is more powerful than device of man.
QUINTUS CURTIUS RUFUS
De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni