First, I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my read more

First, I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my mind. If it were clear in my mind, I should have no incentive or need to write about it. We do not write in order to be understood; we write in order to understand.

Sometimes you've got to let everything go - purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything . . . whatever read more

Sometimes you've got to let everything go - purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything . . . whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you'll find that when you're free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.

The creative person wants to be a know -it -all. He wants to know about all kinds of things: ancient read more

The creative person wants to be a know -it -all. He wants to know about all kinds of things: ancient history, nineteenth -century mathematics, current manufacturing techniques, flower arranging, and hog futures. Because he never knows when these ideas might come together to form a new idea. It may happen six minutes later or six months, or six years down the road. But he has faith that it will happen.

The original is unfaithful to the translation.

The original is unfaithful to the translation.

An original writer is not one who imitates nobody, but one whom nobody can imitate.

An original writer is not one who imitates nobody, but one whom nobody can imitate.

Creativity is allowing oneself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

Creativity is allowing oneself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

The lash may force men to physical labor, it cannot force them to spiritual creativity.

The lash may force men to physical labor, it cannot force them to spiritual creativity.

It seems safe to say that significant discovery, really creative thinking, does not occur with regard to problems about which read more

It seems safe to say that significant discovery, really creative thinking, does not occur with regard to problems about which the thinker is lukewarm.

It's like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole read more

It's like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.