Writers Give Us 18 Reasons Why Coffee Is the Greatest Drink Since Alcohol

Most of couldn't face a morning–or afternoon, for that matter–without a cup of liquid energy to keep us going. Did your favorite writer feel the same way? Here are some great coffee quotes from famous authors.

"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons." —TS Eliot

“Coffee is a lot more than just a drink; it’s something happening. Not as in hip, but like an event, a place to be, but not like a location, but like somewhere within yourself. It gives you time, but not actual hours or minutes, but a chance to be, like be yourself, and have a second cup” ―Gertrude Stein, Selected Writings

“Coffee makes us severe, and grave and philosophical.” ―Jonathan Swift

"Coffee, which makes the politicians wise, And see through all things with his half-shut eyes." —Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock

“Yes, it must be a slow poison, it has been poisoning me for over seventy years!” –Voltaire, when informed by his physician coffee was a poison.

"Ah, that is a perfume in which I delight; when they roast coffee near my house, I hasten to open the door to take in all the aroma." – Jean-Jacques Rousseau

“After a few months’ acquaintance with European ‘coffee’ one’s mind weakens, and his faith with it, and he begins to wonder if the rich beverage of home, with it’s clotted layer of yellow cream on top of it, is not a mere dream after all, and a thing which never existed.” –Mark Twain

“This coffee falls into your stomach, and straightway there is a general commotion. Ideas begin to move like the battalions of the Grand Army of the battlefield, and the battle takes place. Things remembered arrive at full gallop, ensuing to the wind. The light cavalry of comparisons deliver a magnificent deploying charge, the artillery of logic hurry up with their train and ammunition, the shafts of with start up like sharpshooters. Similes arise, the paper is covered with ink; for the struggle commences and is concluded with torrents of black water, just as a battle with powder.” ―Honoré de Balzac

“Coffee: Induces wit… Take it without sugar – very swank: gives the impression you have lived in the East.” —Gustave Flaubert

“I'd rather take coffee than compliments…” ―Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

“I’ll read my books and I’ll drink coffee and I’ll listen to music, and I’ll bolt the door." —JD Salinger, A Boy in France

“As long as there was coffee in the world, how bad could things be?” ―Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes

“It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity.” ―Dave Barry

“I don't know where my ideas come from. I will admit, however, that one key ingredient is caffeine. I get a couple cups of coffee into me and weird things just start to happen.” ―Gary Larson

“A morning coffee is my favorite way of starting the day, settling the nerves so that they don't later fray.” ―Marcia Carrington

“Life is a beautiful and endless journey in search of the perfect cup.” ―Barbara A. Daniels

“The powers of a man's mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks.” ―James Mackintosh

“O Coffee, thou dost dispel all care, thou art the object of desire to the scholar.” –16th century Arabic poem