Quotes About Words

Sometimes, words have consequences you don't intend them to mean.

A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that action, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment to friends; and that the most liberal professions of good-will are very far from being the surest marks of it.

This is how space begins, with words only, signs traced on the blank page. To describe space: to name it, to trace it, like those portolano-makers who saturated the coastlines with the names of harbours, the names of capes, the names of inlets, until in the end the land was only separated from the sea by a continuous ribbon of text. Is the aleph, that place in Borges from which the entire world is visible simultaneously, anything other than an alphabet?

Verbal communication is much easier than written communication, because words act on the feelings in a mysterious way and easily establish a current of sympathy between people; it is for this reason that an orator is able to produce conviction by arguments which do not seem very comprehensible to any one reading the speech later.

But while I fill up my mouth with prayers, they bring no comfort. My words rattle against each other like the last beech leaves on a winter branch, and though a hard wind scours the forest, it cannot free them from the bough; it will not lift them upward into the wide white sky.

Lawyers are men who hire out their words and anger.

Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?... And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost.

10 persons who speak make more noise than 10,000 who are silent.

Words are less needful to sorrow than to joy.

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.

Not a day passes over this earth but men and women of note do great deeds, speak great words and suffer noble sorrows.

And hearts have been broken from harsh words spoken That sorrow can ne'er set right.

Scrolls: write on them what you want to be remembered for.

I was chosen to speak due to my warm personality. . . . Look up warm and it means "not so hot."

But Shelley had a hyperthyroid face.

When I feel inclined to read poetry I take down my dictionary. The poetry of words is quite as beautiful as that of sentences. The author may arrange the gems effectively but their shape and lustre have been given by the attrition of ages.

In lapidary inscriptions a man is not upon oath.

It's pleasant to hear these nice words while I'm still alive. I'd rather have the taffy than the epitaphy.

When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words without heart.

My words fly up, my thoughts remain below; Words without thoughts never to heaven go.

God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Many words do not a good prayer make; what counts is the heartfelt desire to commune with God, and the faith to back it up.

The four-letter word for psychotherapy is 'talk'.

A man of words and not of deeds, Is like a garden full of weeds.