Quotes from Stephen Crane

It perhaps might be said--if any one dared--that the most worthless literature of the world has been that which has been written by the men of one nation concerning the men of another.

A serious prophet upon predicting a flood should be the first man to climb a tree. This would demonstrate that he was indeed a seer.

Over the river a golden ray of sun came through the hosts of leaden rain clouds.

But he said, in substance, to himself that if the earth and moon were about to clash, many persons would doubtless plan to get upon the roofs to witness the collision.

The girl, Maggie, blossomed in a mud puddle.

A man with a full stomach and the respect of his fellows had no business to scold about anything that he might think to be wrong in the ways of the universe, or even with the ways of society. Let the unfortunates rail; the others may play marbles.

We picture the world as thick with conquering and elate humanity, but here, with the bugles of the tempest peeling, it was hard to imagine a peopled earth. One viewed the existence of man then as a marvel, and conceded a glamour of wonder to these lice which were caused to cling to a whirling, fire-smitten, ice-locked, disease-stricken, space-lost bulb. The conceit of man was explained by this storm to be the very engine of life. One was a coxcomb not to die in it.

So it came to pass that as he trudged from the place of blood and wrath his soul changed.

They were going to look at war, the red animal--war, the blood-swollen god.

A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation.

Mother, whose heart hung humble as a button the bright splendid shroud of your son, Do not weep. War is kind.

He saw that it was an ironical thing for him to be running thus toward that which he had been at such pains to avoid.

Think as I think," said a man, "or you are abominably wicked; you are a toad." And after I thought of it, I said, "I will, then, be a toad.

I saw a man pursuing the horizon

A little man said to the Universe. "Sir! I exist." The Universe replied: "That's fine." Just don't think it creates any obligation on my part.

It was not well to drive men into final corners; at those moments they could all develop teeth and claws.

I saw a man pursuing the horizon;Round and round they sped.I was disturbed at this;I accosted the man."It is futile," I said,"You can never-""You lie," he cried,And ran on.

A man said to the universe: 'Sir, I exist!' 'However,' replied the universe. 'The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation.