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

A laudation in Greek is of marvellous efficacy on the title-page
of a book.
[Fr., Une louange en read more

A laudation in Greek is of marvellous efficacy on the title-page
of a book.
[Fr., Une louange en grec est d'une merveilleuse efficace a la
tete d'un livre.]

And who in time knows whither we may vent the treasure of our tongue, to what strange shores this gain read more

And who in time knows whither we may vent the treasure of our tongue, to what strange shores this gain of our best glories shall be sent, 't unknowing Nations with our stores? What worlds in the yet unformed Occident may come refined with the accents that are ours?

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.

We are getting into semantics again. If we use words, there is a very grave danger they will be misinterpreted.

We are getting into semantics again. If we use words, there is a very grave danger they will be misinterpreted.

To have another language is to possess a second soul.

To have another language is to possess a second soul.

Language is power, life and the instrument of culture, the instrument of domination and liberation.

Language is power, life and the instrument of culture, the instrument of domination and liberation.

Spoken language is merely a series of squeaks.

Spoken language is merely a series of squeaks.

Our native language is like a second skin, so much a part of us we resist the idea that it read more

Our native language is like a second skin, so much a part of us we resist the idea that it is constantly changing, constantly being renewed.