There is no such thing as a great talent
without great will-power.
(Balzac: La Muse du Departement.)
Arthur Pinero, «How many ‘coming man’…»
How many coming men one has known!
Where on earth do they all go to?
(Arhur Pinero.)
Churton Collins, «Never claim…»
Never claim as a right
what you can ask as a favour.
(Churton Collins: English Review.)
Swift, «’Tis an old maxim…»
‘Tis an old maxim in the schools,
That flattery’s the food of fools…
(Swift: Cadenus and Vanessa.)
John Selden, «Never tell…»
Never tell your resolution beforehand.
(John Selden: Table Talk.)
Samuel Butler, «The nearest way…»
The nearest way to honour
is to have none at all.
(Samuel Butler (I): Prose Observations.)
Henrik Ibsen, «When we dead awaken…»
When we dead awaken…
We see that we have never lived.
(Henrik Ibsen: When we dead awaken.)
Henrik Ibsen, «A thousand words…»
A thousand words can’t make the mark
a single deed will leave.
(Henrik Ibsen: Brand.)
Henrik Ibsen, «To write…»
To write is to preside at
judgement day over one’s self.
(Henrik Ibsen: Poems.)
Henrik Ibsen, «To live…»
To live is to battle the demons
in the heart as well as the brain.
(Henrik Ibsen: Poems.)