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.]

Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the read more

Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.

Necessity takes impartially the highest and the lowest.
[Lat., Aequa lege necessitas
Sortitur insignes et imos.]

Necessity takes impartially the highest and the lowest.
[Lat., Aequa lege necessitas
Sortitur insignes et imos.]

Men try to run life according to their wishes; life runs itself according to necessity.

Men try to run life according to their wishes; life runs itself according to necessity.

It is surprising what a man can do when he has to, and how little most men will do when read more

It is surprising what a man can do when he has to, and how little most men will do when they don't have to.

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.

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!

If people should ever start to do only what is necessary millions would die of hunger.

If people should ever start to do only what is necessary millions would die of hunger.

Omission to do what is necessary
Seals a commission to a blank of danger;
And danger, like read more

Omission to do what is necessary
Seals a commission to a blank of danger;
And danger, like an ague, subtly taints
Even then when we sit idly in the sun.