"Ah, a German and a genius !..." - Quote by Jonathan Swift

“Men are happy to be laughed at for their humor, but not for their folly.”

“If it were a rainy day, a drunken vigil, a fit of the spleen, a course of physic, sleepy Sunday, an ill run at dice, a long tailor's bill, a beggar's purse, a factious head, a hot sun, costive diet, want of books, and a just contempt for learning - but for these. . .the number of authors and of writing would dwindle away to a degree most woeful to behold.”

“Had Windham possessed discretion in debate, or Sheridan in conduct, they might have ruled their age.”

“Genius and madness have something in common: both live in a world that is different from that which exists for everyone else.”

“Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare.”

“Men of genius sometimes accomplish most when they work least, for they are thinking out inventions.”

“I hate all children of precocious talent.”

“When you think about it, what other playwrights are there besides O'Neill, Tennessee and me?”

“It is very bad for (an artist) to talk about how he (creates). It is not the (artist's) province to explain or to run guided tours through the more difficult country of his work. It's none of their business that you had to learn. Let them think you were born that way.”