Quotes About Subtlety

It was true she had never specifically forbidden us to do anything - that would be too crude a violation of her law of nuance - but this only makes me feel I am actually forbidden to do everything.

He could no more resist pricking the conceits, the hypocrisies and the flamboyant patriotism of those about him than a small boy can resist putting a pin into a balloon. He neatly deflated the pompous and exposed the ignorant and the bigoted, and he did it in such subtle ways, drawing his victims out by his seemingly courteous interest, that they never were quite certain what had happened until they stood exposed as windy, high flown and slightly ridiculous.

Typographic style is founded not on any one technology of typesetting or printing, but on the primitive yet subtle craft of writing.

Observe calmly; secure our position; cope with affairs calmly; hide our capacities and bide our time; be good at maintaining a low profile; and never claim leadership.

If you steal, do not steal too much at a time. You may be arrested. Steal cleverly, little by little.

I love my fed-ex guy cause he's a drug dealer and he don't even know it...and he's always on time.

It's surprising how much memory is built around things unnoticed at the time.

The devil is so subtle that he dominates man and persuades him at the same time that he is not being dominated.

When we had surmounted the acclivity, I was about to withdraw my arm from his, but by a slight tightening of the elbow was tacitly informed that such was not his will, and accordingly desisted.

Trouble is, he wasn't clever enough to pretend to be a little less clever.

she was dressed in the softest grape blue, a gentle color neither navy nor purple, nor yet silver. It was subtle, expensive and extremely flattering.

She was discreet, and

Jenny looked, as usual, elegant and as fine-drawn as a young doe, but oddly muted, as if she had been outlined in sepia.

Beauty doesn't ask for attention

the remarkable tact of never spoiling any mysterious and vague notions which [might] be entertained in the minds of the privates as to the qualities of the commander-in-chief. He confines himself to saying and doing as little as possible before his men.

as if a mischievous intelligence were at work. Yet I have come to the view after five years of involvement in this field that this subtlety is intrinsic to it and must be embraced if we

Don't concentrate on the obvious. They might want you to miss something else.

Don't talk to your horse, dear. People are watching," Pauline said quietly. Halt turned a perplexed look toward her. "How do you know when I'm doing that?" She smiled at him. "Your nose twitches." … On the way, Kane [stableboy] kept glancing surreptitiously at the famous Ranger, fascinated by the fact that he kept staring down his nose and tweaking its tip between his forefinger and thumb.

If there is any debate about peace, do not discuss each clause with excessive subtlety, for exactness produces contention and contention excites and ignites the dangerous flames of hatred." Consider the bigger picture and the damage that will accrue to the church if you persist in your quarrel

The more clearly we are able to express ourselves, the less room there is for ambiguity. The more elaborate and the more precise our vocabulary, the greater the scope for thought and expression. Language is about subtlety and nuance. It is power and it is potent. We can woo with words and we can wound. Despots fear the words of the articulate opponent. Successful revolutions are achieved with words as much as with weapons.

A menudo he pensado que la locura es un poco como la noche, debido a las distintas formas en que se extendió durante varios años por mi corazón y mi mente, unas veces con dureza o rapidez, otras con lentitud y sutileza, de modo que apenas era consciente de que estaba dominándome.

We hate poetry that has a palpable design upon us—and if we do not agree, seems to put its hand in its breeches pocket. Poetry should be great & unobtrusive, a thing which enters into one's soul, and does not startle it or amaze it with itself, but with its subject.

Sophistication is the craft of subtlety that goes noticed.

the kind of place that thrived on understatement and quiet privilege.