There is nothing more unsociable than man, and nothing more sociable: unsociable by his vice, sociable by his nature. - Michel de Montaigne

So it is with minds. Unless you keep them busy with some definite subject that will bridle and control them, they throw themselves in disorder hither and yon in the vague field of imagination... And there is no mad or idle fancy that they do not bring forth in the agitation.

For I make others say what I cannot say so well,... I do not count my borrowings, but, weight them.... They are all, or very nearly all, from such famous and ancient names that they seem to identify themselves enough without me.

A man of genius belongs to no period and no country. He speaks the language of nature, which is always everywhere the same.