51 Great Quotes By Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane was an American short story writer, poet and novelist who rose to prominence in the 19th century. He is particularly well-known for his works that were based on realism, impressionism and naturalism. Crane had been interested in writing right from his childhood and he had been a published author by the time he was a teenager. He did not have much time for formal education and dropped out of college, deciding instead to become a reporter and a professional writer. Crane’s first novel titled ‘Maggie: A Girl of the Streets’ was published in 1893 and according to literary experts, it was the first instance of naturalism in American literature and before long he became a noted author. Some of his other works include ‘The Red Badge of Courage’, ‘The Monster and Other Stories’, ‘George’s Mother’, ‘The Black Rider and Other Lines’, ‘Wounds in the Rain’, ‘The Open Boat’ and ‘Other Tales of Adventure and Active Service’ among others. His most famous work is ‘The Red Badge of Courage’ and is widely read to this day due to its status as one of the classics of American literature. Crane was a great writer and an equally good orator. Some of his writings and thoughts have become quite famous as his quotes and thoughts and is quoted extensively. We bring to you a collection of Stephen Crane’s quotes and thoughts that have been extracted from his writings, books, poems, stories and novels.
A Man Said to the Universe A man said to the universe: “Sir, I exist!” “However,” replied the universe, “The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation.
It was not well to drive men into final corners; at those moments they could all develop teeth and claws.
Think as I think," said a man, "or you are abominably wicked; you are a toad." And after I thought of it, I said, "I will, then, be a toad.
When the suicide arrived at the sky, the people there asked him: "Why?" He replied: "Because no one admired me.
Sometimes, the most profound of awakenings come wrapped in the quietest of moments.
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.
Half of tradition is a lie.
A MAN FEARED A man feared that he might find an assassin; Another that he might find a victim. One was more wise than the other.
But I like it Because it is bitter, And because it is my heart.
Perhaps an individual must consider his own death to be the final phenomenon of nature.
The man had arrived at that stage of drunkenness where affection is felt for the universe.
He vaguely desired to walk around and around the body and stare; the impulse of the living to try to read in dead eyes the answer to the Question.
When the prophet, a complacent fat man, Arrived at the mountain-top He cried: "Woe to my knowledge! I intended to see good white lands And bad black lands— But the scene is grey.
Over the river a golden ray of sun came through the hosts of leaden rain clouds.
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.
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.
But he said, in substance, to himself that if the earth and moon were about to clash, many persons would doubtless plan to get upon the roofs to witness the collision.
Mother, whose heart hung humble as a button the bright splendid shroud of your son, Do not weep. War is kind.
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.
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.
So it came to pass that as he trudged from the place of blood and wrath his soul changed.
The girl, Maggie, blossomed in a mud puddle.
They were going to look at war, the red animal--war, the blood-swollen god.
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")
Held his heart in his hands, And ate of it. I said: "Is it good, friend?" "It is bitter - bitter," he answered; "But I like it Because it is bitter, And because it is my heart.
It appeared that the swift wings of their desires would have shattered against the iron gates of the impossible.
Nevertheless, he had, on a certain star-lit evening, said wonderingly and quite reverently: "Deh moon looks like hell, don't it?
A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation.
The moon had been lighted and was hung in a treetop.
She thinks my name is Freddie, you know, but of course it ain't. I always tell these people some name like that, because if they got onto your right name they might use it sometime. Understand?
