Our necessities are few but our wants are endless.

Our necessities are few but our wants are endless.

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 in these useless and superfluous things that I am rich and
happy.

It is in these useless and superfluous things that I am rich and
happy.

Stern is the visage of necessity.
[Ger., Ernst ist der Anblick der Nothwendigkeit.]

Stern is the visage of necessity.
[Ger., Ernst ist der Anblick der Nothwendigkeit.]

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 mother of invention.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Necessity is a violent school-mistress.
[Fr., C'est une violente maistresse d'eschole que la necessite.]

Necessity is a violent school-mistress.
[Fr., C'est une violente maistresse d'eschole que la necessite.]

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--thou best of peacemakers,
As well as surest prompter of invention.

Necessity--thou best of peacemakers,
As well as surest prompter of invention.