في أزمنة الرخاء كثيرًا ما شعرتُ بخمود خيالي وقدرتي على البيان، أمّا الشدائد فهي عندي على الأقل منشّطٌ ومُقوٍّ.

“In prosperous times I have sometimes felt my fancy and powers of language flag, but adversity is to me at least a tonic and bracer.”Walter Scott — Sir Walter Scott: Collected Letters, Memoirs and Articles: Complete Autobiographical Writings, Journal & Notes, Accompanied with Extended Biographies and Reminiscences of the Author of Waverly, Rob Roy, Ivanhoe, The Pirate, Old Mortality, The Guy Mannering (2015)