Quotes About Author

When my turn came, I said I hoped one day to be the dictator of an Islamic republic with nuclear capability; the others appeared shocked, and I was forced to explain that I had been joking.

He whispers a benediction and breathes it into the air, spreading his hope for you with a contraction of the lungs.

Pride tells me to give it back, but common sense tells pride to shut up, have a joint and relax. I shrug and put the note into my wallet.

Look, unless you're writing one, a self-help book is an oxymoron.

abandoning the city to the predations of warriors on both sides who seemed content to flatten it in order to possess it.

Polite? I said, less than radiant with joy. She smiled. I don't mean it that way, she said. Not being polite. Respectful polite. You give people their space. I really like that. It's unusual

America is our enemy; America should give us more aid.

I dearly love the state of Texas, but I consider that a harmless perversion on my part, and discuss it only with consenting adults.

He came as a man of science, to observe a rare specimen: unhappiness greater than his own.

Convince is for thought; persuade is for action. You couldn't convince me that taping my horrible old-lady voice was a good idea, but you persuaded me to do it anyway, didn't you, you little dickens?

When he sauntered into the house and took a brownie without asking, she realized how long it had been since someone paid her the compliment of presumption.

If any one should importune me to give a reason why I loved him, I feel it could no otherwise be expressed than by making answer, 'Because it was he; because it was I.' There is, beyond what I am able to say, I know not what inexplicable and inevitable power that brought on this union.

What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Michael Palin : I am sorry to interrupt you there Dennis, but he's crossed it out. Thomas Hardy here on the first day of his new novel has crossed out the only word he has written so far and he is gazing off into space. Ohh! Oh dear he's signed his name again. Graham Chapman: It looks like Tess of the D'Urbervilles all over again. - Matching Tie and Handkerchief, Novel Writing

Your Life our your lupines! Dennis Moore

Reading a book should be a conversation between you and the author. Presumably he knows more about the subject than you do; if not, you probably should not be bothering with his book. But understanding is a two-way operation; the learner has to question himself and question the teacher, once he understands what the teacher is saying. Marking a book is literally an expression of your differences or your agreements with the author. It is the highest respect you can pay him.

If an author does not give reasons for his propositions, they can only be treated as expressions of personal opinion on his part.

Find and interpreting the important words.

4. WHAT OF IT? If the book has given you information, you must ask about its significance. Why does the author think it is important to know these things? Is it important to you to know them? And if the book has not only informed you, but also enlightened you, it is necessary to seek further enlightenment by asking what else follows, what is further implied or suggested

1. What does the author want to prove? 2. Whom does he want to convince? 3. What special knowledge does he assume? 4. What special language does he use? 5. Does he really know what he is talking about?

Just as teaching will not avail unless there is a reciprocal activity of being taught, so no author, regardless of his skill in writing, can achieve communication without a reciprocal skill on the part of readers.

The book consists of language written by someone for the sake of communicating something to you. Your sucess in reading it is determined by the extent to which you recieve everything the writer intended to communicate.

His propositions are nothing but expressions of personal opinion unless they are supported by reasons.

But the heart of his communication lies in the major affirmations and denials he is making, and the reasons he gives for so doing.