Date: September 10, 1836

"Hundreds of writers may be found in every long-civilized nation, who for a short time believe, and make others believe, that they see and utter truths, who do not of themselves clothe one thought in its natural garment, but who feed unconsciously on the language created by the primary writers of...

— Emerson, Ralph Waldo (1803-1882)

Date: March 1843

"Truth often finds its way to the mind close muffled in robes of sleep, and then speaks with uncompromising directness of matters in regard to which we practise an unconscious self-deception during our waking moments."

— Hawthorne, Nathaniel (1804-1864)

Date: September 7, 1923

"It was caparison of mind and cloud / And something given to make whole among / The ruses that were shattered by the large."

— Stevens, Wallace (1879-1955)

Date: 1982

"'I can still see Wilkie,' says a contemporary, 'late for a speech, running through the library, raincoat over his shoulder, half done up, like his mind.'"

— Smith, Richard Norton (b. 1953)

Date: 2005

"Memories, like mohair sweaters, / Stretched and pilled faux distressed letters."

— Bird, Andrew (b. July 11, 1973)