Scotsmen are metaphisical and emotional they are sceptical and mystical they are romantic and ironic they are cruel and tender and full of mirth and despair.

I learned a good deal about economics and about America from the author of the Reagan tax reforms - the great Jack Kemp. What gave Jack that incredible enthusiasm was his belief in the possibilities of free people in the power of free enterprise and strong communities to overcome poverty and despair. We need that same optimism right now.

I despair of ever writing excellent poetry.

The novel is born of disillusionment the poem of despair.

Sad Patience too near neighbour to despair.

I think most artists create out of despair. The very nature of creation is not a performing glory on the outside it's a painful difficult search within.

Men die in despair while spirits die in ecstasy.

Love seeketh not itself to please nor for itself hath any care but for another gives its ease and builds a Heaven in Hell's despair.

Man's nature is not essentially evil. Brute nature has been know to yield to the influence of love. You must never despair of human nature.

For if there is a sin against life it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.