“Alas! What boots it with uncessant care To tend the homely slighted Shepherd's trade, And strictly meditate the thankless muse; Were it not better done as others use, To sport with Amaryllis in the shade, Or with the tangles of Neaera's hair? Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise (That last infirmity of noble mind) To scorn delights, and live laborious days; But the fair guerdon when we hope to find, And think to burst out into sudden blaze, Comes the blind Fury with th'abhorred shears, And slits the thin-spun life.” ThinkingMindDoneUseCareLastsSpiritSportsClearHairFameFairsRaisesBlindTradeDelightNobleShadeBootsMuseAlasScornFuryShepherdsSpursInfirmitySpunSlitsHomelyThanklessSlightedShears Author:John Milton
“In my later years I have sought to become simpler, straighter and purer in my handling of the language. I've had many writing heroes, writers who have influenced me. Of the ones still alive, I can think of E.B. White. I certainly admire the pure, crystal stream of his prose. When I was very young as a sportswriter I knowingly and unashamedly imitated others. I had a series of heroes who would delight me for a while and I'd imitate them--Damon Runyon, Westbrook Pegler, Joe Williams.” ThinkingWritingYearsStillsI CanYoungLanguageSportsWhiteAliveHeroPureSeriesDelightAdmireStreamsProseCrystalsDamon Author:Red Smith