Quotes About Inspiration

There is only one thing a writer can write about: what is in front of his senses at the moment of writing.

So cheat your landlord if you can and must, but do not try to shortchange the Muse. It cannot be done. You can't fake quality any more than you can fake a good meal.

Literature is a comprehensive essence of the intellectual life of a nation.

Care I for the limb, the thews, the stature, bulk, and big assemblance of a man! Give me the spirit.

Hark! hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings,And Phoebus 'gins arise,His steeds to water at those springsOn chalic'd flowers that lies;And winking Mary-buds beginTo ope their golden eyes:With everything that pretty is,My lady sweet, arise.

I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:Follow your spirit; and, upon this chargeCry "God for Harry! England and Saint George!"

Nature's above art in that respect.

Orpheus with his lute made trees,And the mountain-tops that freeze,Bow themselves, when he did sing.

The love of heaven makes one heavenly.

All impediments in fancy's courseAre motives of more fancy.

Sits as one new-risen from a dream.

My imaginations are as foulAs Vulcan's stithy.

Full many a glorious morning have I seen.

True, I talk of dreams,Which are the children of an idle brain,Begot of nothing but vain fantasy.

For where is any author in the worldTeaches such beauty as a woman's eye?Learning is but an adjunct to ourself.

William Shakespeare

Tell me where is fancy bred,Or in the heart or in the head?How begot, how nourished?Reply, reply.

The lark, the herald of the morn.

And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything.

A rhapsody of words.

These are begot in the ventricle of memory, nourished in the womb of pia mater, and delivered upon the mellowing of occasion.

Let there be gall enough in thy ink.

These trees shall be my books.

He hath a daily beauty in his life.