Literature and Words

Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own.

No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means.

Poetry is superior to painting in the presentation of words, and painting is superior to poetry in the presentation of facts. For this reason I judge painting to be superior to poetry.

Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.

It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense .

A public library is the most enduring of memorials, the trustiest monument for the preservation of an event or a name or an affection; for it, and it only, is respected by wars and revolutions, and survives them.

Don't explain your author, read him right and he explains himself.

Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.

To get the right word in the right place is a rare achievement.

The frankest and freest and privatest product of the human mind and heart is a love letter.

It is not wise to solicit the opinions of publishers—they become proud if you do.

Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade, just as painting does, or music. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself.

The sword the body wounds, sharp words the mind.

Word has somehow got around that the split infinitive is always wrong. That is a piece with the outworn notion that it is always wrong to strike a lady.

Word-carpentry is like any other kind of carpentry: you must join your sentences smoothly.

It is immoral not to tell.

The moment a man begins to talk about technique, that’s proof he is fresh out of ideas.

The one great rule of composition is to speak the truth.

Burn proofs when read. You shall have the book on publication .

In words are seen the state of mind and character and disposition of the speaker.

Forward motion in any piece of writing is carried by verbs. Verbs are the action words of the language and the most important. Turn to any passage on any page of a successful novel and notice the high percentage of verbs. Beginning writers always use too many adjectives and adverbs and generally use too many dependent clauses. Count your words and words of verbal force (like that word “force” I just used).

For out of olde feldes, as men seyth, Cometh al this newe corn fro yer to yere; 2 And out of olde bokes, in good feyth, Cometh al this newe science that men lere.

Whan that the month of May Is comen, and that I here the foules synge, And that the floures gynnen for to sprynge, Farewel my bok, and my devocioun!

Words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart.