Necessity is blind until it becomes conscious. Freedom is the consciousness of necessity.
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
Necessity reconciles and brings men together; and this accidental connection afterwards forms itself into laws.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
“Necessity is the mother of invention” is a silly proverb. “Necessity is the mother of futile dodges” is much closer to the truth. The basis of growth of modern invention is science, and science is almost wholly the outgrowth of pleasurable intellectual curiosity.
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English Mathematician, Philosopher
Necessity has no law.
—Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) British Head of State, Military Leader
Necessity never made a good bargain.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Necessity knows no law except to conquer.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Necessity is often the spur to genius.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
Teach thy necessity to reason thus;
There is no virtue like necessity.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Make yourself necessary to somebody.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Necessity does everything well.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Necessity is the mother of invention.
—Common Proverb
Nobody should trust their virtue with necessity, the force of which is never known till it is felt, and it is therefore one of the first duties to avoid the temptation of it.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
Against necessity, against its strength, no one can fight and win.
—Aeschylus (525–456 BCE) Greek Poet
Invention is the mother of necessity.
—Thorstein Veblen (1857–1929) American Economist, Social Critic
Must! Is must a word to be addressed to princes? Little man, little man! thy father, if he had been alive, durst not have used that word.
—Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603) British Monarch
Literature is a luxury; fiction is a necessity.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet