That's why she took a man's name

Novelist George Sand (Amandine Aurore Lucile Dupin, Baronne Dudevant) was born on July 1, 1804.

"I have had my bellyful of great men," she wrote. "In real life they are nasty creatures, persecutors, temperamental, despotic, bitter and suspicious."

He withdrew, to save his soul -- and his neck

Artist Paul Gauguin was born on this day in 1848.

"Fame! What a vain word, and what a vain recompense!" he wrote. "I think only of withdrawing myself far from men, and in consequence far from fame."

"Don't talk to me of Gauguin. I'd like to wring the fellow's neck!" -- Paul Cezanne.

The sweet smell turns rancid

Emily Dickinson died on this day in 1886. She wrote:

Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.

For more on Emily Dickinson, visit Farewells