The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean

The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean

And who in time knows whither we may vent
The treasure of our tongue? To what strange shores
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And who in time knows whither we may vent
The treasure of our tongue? To what strange shores
This gain of our best glory shall be sent,
T' enrich unknowing nations with our stores?
What worlds in th' yet unformed Occident
May come refin'd with th' accents that are ours?

Spoken language is merely a series of squeaks.

Spoken language is merely a series of squeaks.

Like a diaphanous nightgown, language both hides and reveals.

Like a diaphanous nightgown, language both hides and reveals.

Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing.

Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing.

Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it

Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it

When a language creates -- as it does -- a community within the present, it does so only by courtesy read more

When a language creates -- as it does -- a community within the present, it does so only by courtesy of a community between the present and the past.

The English language is rather like a monster accordion, stretchable at the whim of the editor, compressible ad lib.

The English language is rather like a monster accordion, stretchable at the whim of the editor, compressible ad lib.

All language reflects the prejudices of the society in which it evolved.

All language reflects the prejudices of the society in which it evolved.