“My thinking is first and last and always for the sake of my doing.”

“… to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.”

Herman Melville (1818–1891) American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet

“Thy friendship oft has made my heart to ache: do be my enemy for friendship's sake.”

William Blake (1757–1827) English Romantic poet and artist

“Nonviolence is the first article of my faith. It is also the last article of my creed.”

Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) pre-eminent leader of Indian nationalism during British-ruled India

“My last sunrise. That morning, I was not yet a vampire. And I saw my last sunrise. I remember it completely; yet I do not think I remember any other sunrise before it.”

Anne Rice book Interview with the Vampire

“It's not art for art's sake, it's art for my sake.”

D.H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, literary critic and painter

“If I didn't know the ending of a story, I wouldn't begin. I always write my last lines, my last paragraph first, and then I go back and work towards it. I know where I'm going. I know what my goal is. And how I get there is God's grace.”

Katherine Anne Porter (1890–1980) American journalist, essayist, short story writer, novelist, and political activist

“She was my closest friend. She was the one person, other than my husband, I could turn to in a crisis. There was a lot of resentment when I first came to town. But Patsy was strong-willed and always taking up for me. If it hadn't been for her, I don't think I would have lasted.”

Loretta Lynn (1932) American country-music singer-songwriter

“Its best to live as if it were the first and last day of my life.”

Paulo Coelho book Eleven Minutes

“[Blogging] helps me to get out my feelings, get out my emotions. [When I started] I was mainly writing for my own sake. It really helped me articulate what I think, to get my thoughts out. I like to get feedback sometimes—although there’s a lot of hate, there’s always good advice. I found it really helpful for myself. Writing always helps.”

Abby Stein (1991) Trans activist, speaker, and educator