No one knows how greatness ...

No one knows how greatness comes to a man. It may lie in his blackness, sleeping, or it may lance into him like those driven fiery particles from outer space. These things, however, are known about greatness: need gives it life and puts it in action; it never comes without pain; it leaves a man changed, chastened, and exalted at the same time--he can never return to simplicity.
No one knows how greatness comes to a man. It may lie in his blackness, sleeping, or it may lance into him like those driven fiery particles from outer space. These things, however, are known about greatness: need gives it life and puts it in action; it never comes without pain; it leaves a man changed, chastened, and exalted at the same time--he can never return to simplicity.

Quotes from the same author

It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.
If we could learn to like ourselves, even a little, maybe our cruelties and angers might melt away.
Man, unlike anything organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments.
If I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an' work, an' no trouble.
Abandon the idea that you are ever going to finish.