Necessity may be the mother of invention, but play is certainly the father.

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but play is certainly the father.

The art of our necessities is strange, That can make vile things precious.

The art of our necessities is strange, That can make vile things precious.

It is not necessary for the public to know whether I am joking or
whether I am serious, just read more

It is not necessary for the public to know whether I am joking or
whether I am serious, just as it is not necessary for me to know
it myself.

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.

It is bad to live for necessity; but there is no necessity to
live in necessity.
[Lat., Malum read more

It is bad to live for necessity; but there is no necessity to
live in necessity.
[Lat., Malum est necessitati vivere; sed in necessitate vivere
necessitas nulla est.]

My steps have pressed the flowers,
That to the Muses' bowers
The eternal dews of Helicon have read more

My steps have pressed the flowers,
That to the Muses' bowers
The eternal dews of Helicon have given:
And trod the mountain height,
Where Science, young and bright,
Scans with poetic gaze the midnight-heaven.
Yet have I found no power to vie
With thine, severe necessity!

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.

Necessity dispenseth with decorum.

Necessity dispenseth with decorum.