1、The Pen and the Inkstandby Hans Christian Andersen（1860）IN a poet's room， where his inkstand stood onthe table， the remark was once made，“It iswonderful what can be brought out of an inkstand.What will come next？ It is indeed wonderful.”“Yes， certainly，” said the inksta
2、nd to the pen，and to the other articles that stood on the table；“that's what I always say. It is wonderful andextraordinary what a number of things come out ofme. It's quite incredible， and I really don't know what is coming next when that man dips hispen into me. One d
3、rop out of me is enough for half a page of paper， and what cannot half apage contain？ From me， all the works of a poet are produced； all those imaginarycharacters whom people fancy they have known or met. All the deep feeling， the humor， andthe vivid pictures of nature.
4、 I myself don't understand how it is， for I am not acquaintedwith nature， but it is certainly in me. From me have gone forth to the world those wonderfuldescriptions of troops of charming maidens， and of brave knights on prancing steeds； of thehalt and the blind， and I
5、know not what more， for I assure you I never think of thesethings.”“there you are right，” said the pen，“for you don't think at all； if you did， you would seethat you can only provide the means. You give the fluid that I may place upon the paper whatdwells in me， and wha
6、t I wish to bring to light. It is the pen that writes： no man doubtsthat； and， indeed， most people understand as much about poetry as an old inkstand.”“You have had very little experience，” replied the inkstand.“You have hardly been in servicea week， and are already hal
7、f worn out. Do you imagine you are a poet？ You are only aservant， and before you came I had many like you， some of the goose family， and others ofEnglish manufacture. I know a quill pen as well as I know a steel one. I have had both sorts inmy service， and I shall have
8、many more when he comes—the man who performs themechanical part—and writes down what he obtains from me. I sho
