quotations about necessity
Necessity seeks bread where it is to be found.
SALIS
attributed, Day's Collacon
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
Necessity -- thou best of peacemakers,
As well as surest prompter of invention.
WALTER SCOTT
Peveril of the Peak
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
When God will educate a man, he compels him to learn bitter lessons; He sends him to school to the necessities rather than to the graces, that by knowing all suffering he may know also the eternal consolations.
CELIA BURLEIGH
attributed, Holy Thoughts on Holy Things
Even the gods are unable to contend against necessity.
SIMONIDES
attributed, Day's Collacon
A grand necessity elevates man; a small one degrades him.
L. J. NIVERNAIS
attributed, Day's Collacon
Whatever sorrows may be thy doom, bear them with patience, if necessity entail them.
HOMER
attributed, Day's Collacon
Necessity of action takes away the fear of the act, and makes bold resolution the favorite of fortune.
FRANCIS QUARLES
Enchiridion
Necessity often has a brow of despair.
EDWARD COUNSEL
Maxims
Most of us do not have incomes large enough to provide both the things we need and the things we want. We are forced to choose between our necessities and our luxuries. And, very foolishly, we choose to offer up the luxuries. Thus our existence becomes dull and monotonous. We can hardly be said really to live: our lives are lived for us--cut out and sewed together by the habits and customs of the class to which we belong.
BRUCE FAIRCHILD BARTON
More Power to You
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
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 dispenseth with decorum.
THOMAS FULLER
Gnomologia
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 does the work of courage.
GEORGE ELIOT
Romola
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 when threatening is more powerful than device of man.
QUINTUS CURTIUS RUFUS
De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni
Necessity imposes law, but does not herself receive it.
PUBLIUS SYRUS
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