Edgar Allan Poe: I have, indeed, no abhorrence of danger, except in it...

The word "Verse" is used here as the term most convenient for expressing, and without pedantry, all that is involved in the consideration of rhythm, rhyme, meter, and versification... the subject is exceedingly simple; one tenth of it, possibly may be called ethical; nine tenths, however, appertains to the mathematics.

Edgar Allan Poe

poetry simple may

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore.

Edgar Allan Poe

nevermore ravens tombstone

That the play is the tragedy, “Man,” And its hero, the Conqueror Worm.

Edgar Allan Poe

hero play men

To speak algebraically, Mr. M. is execrable, but Mr. G. is (x + 1)- ecrable.

Edgar Allan Poe

mathematics speak math

Perched upon a bust of Pallas, just above my chamber door,- Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Edgar Allan Poe

sat justice doors

We now demand the light artillery of the intellect; we need the curt, the condensed, the pointed, the readily diffused - in place of the verbose, the detailed, the voluminous, the inaccessible. On the other hand, the lightness of the artillery should not degenerate into pop-gunnery - by which term we may designate the character of the greater portion of the newspaper press - their sole legitimate object being the discussion of ephemeral matters in an ephemeral manner.

Edgar Allan Poe

light character hands

And now have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but overacuteness of the senses?

Edgar Allan Poe

senses madness mistake

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. In their gray visions they obtain glimpses of eternity, and thrill, in waking, to find that they have been upon the verge of the great secret. In snatches, they learn something of the wisdom which is of good, and more of the mere knowledge which is of evil.

Edgar Allan Poe

evil dream night

As for Republicanism, no analogy could be found for it upon the face of the earth—unless we except the case of the "prairie dogs," an exception which seems to demonstrate, if anything, that democracy is a very admirable form of government—for dogs.

Edgar Allan Poe

democracy government dog

I stand amid the roar Of a surf-tormented shore, And I hold within my hand Grains of golden sand- How few! yet how they creep Through my fingers to the deep, While I weep- while I weep!

Edgar Allan Poe

surf golden hands

The object, Truth, or the satisfaction of the intellect, and the object, Passion, or the excitement of the heart, are, although attainable, to a certain extent, in poetry, far more readily attainable in prose.

Edgar Allan Poe

passion satisfaction heart

I have before suggested that a genuine blackguard is never without a pocket-handkerchief.

Edgar Allan Poe

handkerchiefs genuine pockets

A gentleman with a pug nose is a contradiction in terms.

Edgar Allan Poe

pugs gentleman noses

Sound loves to revel in a summer night.

Edgar Allan Poe

sound summer night

A short story is "a short prose narrative, requiring from a half hour, to one or two hours in its perusal...having conceived, with deliberate care, a certain unique or single effect to be wrought out.

Edgar Allan Poe

care unique two

We allude to the short prose narrative, requiring from a half hour to one or two hours in its perusal

Edgar Allan Poe

narrative half two

Not hear it? --yes, I hear it, and have heard it. Long --long --long --many minutes, many hours, many days, have I heard it --yet I dared not --oh, pity me, miserable wretch that I am! --I dared not --I dared not speak! We have put her living in the tomb!

Edgar Allan Poe

miserable speak long

And much of Madness, and more of Sin,

Edgar Allan Poe

madness plot soul

[The daguerreotype] itself must undoubtedly be regarded as the most important, and perhaps the most extraordinary triumph of modern science.

Edgar Allan Poe

daguerreotypes triumph important

O, Times! O, Manners! It is my opinion That you are changing sadly your dominion I mean the reign of manners hath long ceased, For men have none at all, or bad at least; And as for times, altho' 'tis said by many The "good old times" were far the worst of any, Of which sound Doctrine I believe each tittle Yet still I think these worst a little. I've been a thinking -isn't that the phrase?- I like your Yankee words and Yankee ways - I've been a thinking, whether it were best To Take things seriously, Or all in jest

Edgar Allan Poe

men mean believe

I have, indeed, no abhorrence of danger, except in its absolute effect - in terror.