Page:Thoughts on art and life.djvu/47

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play with the labours of others will not allow me mine? They will say that being unskilled in let- ters I cannot find true expression for the matters of which I desire to treat; they do not know that in my subjects experience is a truer guide than the words of others, for experience was the teacher of all great writers, and therefore I take her for guide, and I will cite her in all cases.

25.

Although I may not be able to quote other au- thors, as they do, I can quote from a greater and more worthy source, namely, experience, — the teacher of their masters. They go about swelled with pride and pomposity, dressed up and be- dight, not with their own labour, but with that of others ; and they will not concede me mine. And if they despise me, who am a creator, far more are they, who do not create but trumpet abroad and exploit the works of other men, to be blamed.

26.

He who in reasoning cites authority is making use of his memory rather than of his intellect.

27.

Men who are creators and interpreters of nature to man, in comparison with boasters and ex- ploiters of the works of others, must be judged

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