Invention is the mother of necessity.
—Thorstein Veblen (1857–1929) American Economist, Social Critic
Fear is the underminer of all determinations; and necessity, the victorious rebel of all laws.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
The necessities were going by default to save the luxuries until I hardly knew which were necessities and which luxuries.
—Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) American Architect
Our necessities are few, but our wants are endless.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Everything existing in the universe is the fruit of chance and necessity
—Democritus (c.460–c.370 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
And with necessity, the tyrant’s plea, excused his devilish deeds.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
We cannot conquer fate and necessity, yet we can yield to them in such a manner as to be greater than if we could.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
What fate imposes, men must needs abide; it boots not to resist both wind and tide.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Make yourself necessary to somebody.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
—William Pitt the Younger (1759–1806) British Prime Minister
Vice came in always at the door of necessity, not at the door of inclination.
—Daniel Defoe (1659–1731) English Writer, Journalist, Pamphleteer
An extravagance is something that your spirit thinks is a necessity.
—Bert Williams (1876–1922) American Entertainer, Actor
To hard necessity ones will and fancy must conform.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Necessity may render a doubtful act innocent, but it cannot make it praise worthy.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
What one has to do usually can be done.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
Necessity does the work of courage.
—Nicholas Murray Butler (1862–1947) American Philosopher, Diplomat, Educator
Fact I know; and Law I know; but what is this Necessity, save an empty shadow of my own mind’s throwing?
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
The necessary has never been man’s top priority. The passionate pursuit of the nonessential and the extravagant is one of the chief traits of human uniqueness. Unlike other forms of life, man’s greatest exertions are made in the pursuit not of necessities but of superfluities.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
It is necessity and not pleasure that compels us.
—Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Italian Poet, Philosopher
To the mass of mankind, religion of some kind is a necessity.
—Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913) British Naturalist, Biologist
When necessity speaks, it demands.
—Russian Proverb
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
Necessity is blind until it becomes conscious. Freedom is the consciousness of necessity.
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
Necessity is the mistress and guardian of Nature.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Architect
Necessity makes an honest man a knave.
—Daniel Defoe (1659–1731) English Writer, Journalist, Pamphleteer
Necessity is not an established fact, but rather an interpretation.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Necessity is often the spur to genius.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
Necessity reconciles and brings men together; and this accidental connection afterwards forms itself into laws.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
A people never fairly begins to prosper till necessity is treading on its heels. The growing want of room is one of the sources of civilization. Population is power, but it must be a population that, in growing, is made daily apprehensive of the morrow.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Historian, Novelist, Editor
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