“Nothing is more clear than that every plot, worth the name, must be elaborated to its dénouement before any thing be attempted with the pen.”

Advocating deliberate construction before the writing of a story begins · Literary essay, 1846

• Art

“When a man of genius speaks of “the difficult” he means, simply, “the impossible.”

A characteristically sharp observation on ambition and creative limitation · Published marginal notes, 1849

• Art
• Truth

“In short as regards verbal construction, the more prosaic a poetical style is, the better.”

Praising clarity and natural phrasing as sources of poetic strength · Published marginal notes, 1849

• Art
• Poetry