Quotes About Inspiration

He that thinks he works for a song, as we say, will not sing at his work

Bless God for the translation of the Scriptures. The word is our sword. By being translated, this sword is drawn out of its scabbard.

The Spirit puts forth an act of exsuscitation[4] upon the soul, to stir up his affections.

When the spirit is low through unbelief, every threatening from man makes sad impression. Let thy faith take but a deep draught of the promises, and thy courage will rise.

It's a pretty good rule to remember that every time we come into contact with another person, even though just walking a block, our job is to lead him to a higher plane than that one on which we found him.

Try to remember that artists in these catastrophic times, along with the serious scientists, are the only salvation for us, if there is to be any.

A book is like a deck of windows

Seldom was blue for blue's sake present till Pollock hurled pigment at his canvas like pies.

The contemporary American writer is in no way a part of the social and political scene. He is therefore not muzzled, for no one fears his bite; nor is he called upon to compose. Whatever work he does must proceed from a reckless inner need.

The true alchemists do not change lead into gold; they change the world into words.

As Borges has taught us, all the books in the library are contemporary. Great poems are like granaries: they are always ready to enlarge their store.

Everyone hooks up with George Clooney. He's a genuinely cool guy. He's using his powers for good.

I'm sure I have a process, but it mostly takes place in my dreams.

No man can follow Christ and go astray.

To the teacher weighed down with paperwork, I say: you've been messed around too often. You came into teaching to spend your time teaching children not filling in forms.

Inspiring scenes of people taking the future of their countries into their own hands will ignite greater demands for good governance and political reform elsewhere in the world, including in Asia and in Africa.

Great thoughts reduced to practice become great acts.

Poetry is all that is worth remembering in life.

The contemplation of truth and beauty is the proper object for which we were created, which calls forth the most intense desires of the soul, and of which it never tires.

The definition of genius is that it acts unconsciously; and those who have produced immortal works, have done so without knowing how or why. The greatest power operates unseen.

Rules and models destroy genius and art.

The path of genius is free, and its own

We occasionally see something on the stage that reminds us a little of Shakespear. [Oct. 16, 1814, The Champion ]

My feathered friends were so much to me that I am constantly tempted to make this sketch of my first years a book about birds and little else.