Quotes About Language

Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all.

If you be pungent, be brief; for it is with words as with sunbeams - the more they are condensed the deeper they burn.

We are tired of aristocratic explanations in Harvard words.

The genius of democracies is seen not only in the great number of new words introduced but even more in the new ideas they express.

It is my great good luck the words I use are English words, which means I live in a very old nation of open borders; a rich, deep, multi-layered, promiscuous universe, infused with Latin, German, French, Greek, Arabic and countless other tongues.

If you would be pungent, be brief; for it is with words as with sunbeams - the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.

I speak French, German, English, and Dutch, and I can say a few words in Spanish - none of these languages have anything to do with Valyrian.

How strangely do we diminish a thing as soon as we try to express it in words.

Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere.

First of all, there was a volcano of words, an eruption of words that Shakespeare had never used before that had never been used in the English language before. It's astonishing. It pours out of him.

I think 'lunch' is one of the funniest words in the world.

Words like 'bossy,' 'shrill,' and 'moody' are used to describe women who speak up at work and give voice to their passion - but I believe this negative commentary is meant to keep critical thinkers quiet.

Words in a person's word stock are like paints on a palette. It helps to have just the right shade when you need it.

Poetry involves the mysteries of the irrational perceived through rational words.

Words are often seen hunting for an idea, but ideas are never seen hunting for words.

Every director has his own syntax, his own grammar, his own words.

Harmony is an obscure and difficult musical science, but most difficult to those who are not acquainted with the Greek language; because it is necessary to use many Greek words to which there are none corresponding in Latin.

I've always been a fan of poetry. I grew up with Lawrence Ferlinghetti and the Beat poets. I really followed that stuff for a while. I just love the way people threw words around like they were painting.

The short words are best, and the old words are the best of all.

Don't you know this, that words are doctors to a diseased temperment?

In fact, words are well adapted for description and the arousing of emotion, but for many kinds of precise thought other symbols are much better.

Words hold tremendous power, and if we don't reclaim our language and start seeing people instead of 'militants,' drone victims instead of 'bug splats,' or natural splendor instead of 'green infrastructure,' then the voiceless are destined to be silenced forever.

He suffered from a rush of words to the head.

Words can be very powerful. I find them very difficult.