“Whatever question there may be of his [Thoreau's] talent, there can be none, I think, of his genius. It was a slim and crooked one; but it was eminently personal. He was imperfect, unfinished, inartistic; he was worse than provincial — he was parochial; it is only at his best that he is readable.”

Hawthorne, ch. IV: Brook Farm and Concord.

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Henry James154

American novelist, short story author, and literary critic 1843–1916

Iolo Goch (1320–1398) Welsh bard

Gwn mai digrifach ganwaith
Gantho, modd digyffro maith,
Gaffel, ni'm dawr heb fawr fai,
Yr aradr crwm a'r irai,
No phed fai, pan dorrai dwr.
Source: Y Llafurwr (The Labourer), Line 25.

“A person is strong only when he stands upon his own truth, when he speaks and acts from his deepest convictions. Then, whatever the situation he may be in, he always knows what he must say and do. He may fall, but he cannot bring shame upon himself or his cause.”

Mikhail Bakunin book God and the State

God and the State (1871; publ. 1882)
Context: A person is strong only when he stands upon his own truth, when he speaks and acts from his deepest convictions. Then, whatever the situation he may be in, he always knows what he must say and do. He may fall, but he cannot bring shame upon himself or his cause. If we seek the liberation of the people by means of a lie, we will surely grow confused, go astray, and lose sight of our objective, and if we have any influence at all on the people we will lead them astray as well — in other words, we will be acting in the spirit of reaction and to its benefit.

“For every man in the world functions to the best of his ability, and no one does less than his best, no matter what he may think about it.”

John Steinbeck book The Pearl

Source: The Pearl (1947), Ch. IV

“He thinks in one second and does it the next. He is a special player, one who is original and exceptional. He creates space where there is none. Only the very best players can do that. No matter where he gets the ball or how it comes to him, Zidane can get out of trouble. His imagination and his technique are amazing.”

Zinedine Zidane (1972) French association football player and manager

Edgar Davids, 2000 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/4752511/Guardiola-books-his-chance-to-face-Zidane.html.

“A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive.”

Walt Disney (1901–1966) American film producer and businessman

As quoted in Walt Disney, Magician of the Movies (1966) by Bob Thomas p. 116

“A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there.”

Walt Disney (1901–1966) American film producer and businessman

As quoted in Walt Disney, Magician of the Movies (1966) by Bob Thomas p. 116
Context: A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive.

“If a man does not work passionately - even furiously - at being the best in the world at what he does, he fails his talent, his destiny, and his God.”

George Lois (1931) American art director, designer and author