Stephen Crane

A man said to the universe: 'Sir, I exist!' 'However,' replied the universe. 'The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation. ↗

— Stephen Crane

#existence #obligation #purpose #universe #purpose

It was not well to drive men into final corners; at those moments they could all develop teeth and claws. ↗

— Stephen Crane

#war #courage

When the suicide arrived at the sky, the people there asked him: "Why?" He replied: "Because no one admired me. ↗

— Stephen Crane

#death #heaven #suicide #death

Sometimes, the most profound of awakenings come wrapped in the quietest of moments. ↗

— Stephen Crane

#inspirational-attitude #attitude

It perhaps might be said--if any one dared--that the most worthless literature of the world has been that which has been written by the men of one nation concerning the men of another. ↗

— Stephen Crane

#value #writing #men

He saw that it was an ironical thing for him to be running thus toward that which he had been at such pains to avoid. ↗

— Stephen Crane

#irony #red-badge-of-courage #war #courage

Tell her this And more,— That the king of the seas Weeps too, old, helpless man. The bustling fates Heap his hands with corpses Until he stands like a child With surplus of toys. ↗

— Stephen Crane

#drowning #king-neptune #neptune #ocean #poseidon

The maddened four men followed frantically, for it is better to be in the presence of the awful than only within hearing. ("The Black Dog") ↗

— Stephen Crane

#hearing #horror #men

And it was as if fate had betrayed the soldier. In death it exposed to his enemies that poverty which in life he had perhaps concealed from his friends. ↗

— Stephen Crane

#courage

A serious prophet upon predicting a flood should be the first man to climb a tree. This would demonstrate that he was indeed a seer. ↗

— Stephen Crane

#prophets #religion #courage