Quotes About Words

So many stories, and to choose which ones to tell and how to tell them. The words, they will tap me on the shoulder and they will speak to me: 'Tell me! Tell me!' The stories choose me.

I determined to learn to pray so that my experience conforms to the words of Jesus rather than try to make his words conform to my impoverished experience.

One reason we can hardly bear to remain silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We are so accustomed to relying upon words to manage and control others. If we are silent, who will take control? God will take control, but we will never let him take control until we trust him. Silence is intimately related to trust. The

The tongue is our most powerful weapon of manipulation. A frantic stream of words flows from us because we are in a constant process of adjusting our public image. We fear so deeply what we think other people see in us that we talk in order to straighten out their understanding.

What escapes you, never leaves you. Everything is a journey of trust. You have to have the kind of faith the flame has for the candle, that the bird has for its wings. Otherwise, our words have no destinations. Otherwise, our words are snakes that swallow our souls. —Richard Jackson, from "Isaac's Consent," Out of Place: Poems (Ashland Poetry Press, 2014)

We come from a place that has always been inside us. Our words migrate helplessly. The world reflects only itself. Which is why we have to create our own memories.

My own heart seems / locked away, the combinations lost, tomorrow lost / among the endless echoes of words not yet spoken. — Richard Jackson, from "The Invisible Object," Retrievals (C & R Press,

I would like to find the words to make sure the man only looks longingly at the way night has begun to deepen itself in the river. It's easy to drown yourself in words that drift out of your past. — Richard Jackson, from "Easy," Broken Horizons (Press 53, 2018)

My own words cast a shadow a never meant. Please forget them. Or not. The shadows we speak sometimes are what tell us how astonishing the morning, is, as here, where a last owl tightens a grip on a branch, where a last chance circles with the first swallows.

The limits of my language," wrote the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, "are the limits of my mind. All I know is what I have words for." Without the word we are imprisoned; possessing the word, we are set free.

After all, if Queen Esther prayed, when she was going to speak in the king's presence for the temporal salvation of her people, that God might put suitable words into her mouth, how much more should you pray to receive such a favor, when you are toiling in word and teaching for the people's eternal salvation?

As this long and difficult war ends, I would like to address a few special words to the American people: Your steadfastness in supporting our insistence on peace with honor has made peace with honor possible.

I've never understood why people said 'in your own words.' Who else's words would I use?

The big problem was subvocalization, or the sounding out of words in his mind as he read them. He couldn't seem to squelch the need to hear the words as he read.

You can sleep now, you said. You can sleep now. You said that. I had a dream where you said that. Thanks for saying that. You weren't supposed to.

I crawled out the window and ran into the woods. I had to make up all the words myself. The way they taste, the way they sound in the air. I passed through the narrow gate, stumbled in, stumbled around for awhile, and stumbled back out. I made this place for you. A place for you to love me. If this isn't the kingdom then I don't know what is.

Scents, dreams, thoughts — even words — they all try to stick around, but we ignore them, so they leave.

Remember these rules: Don't say all when you mean most. Don't say most when you mean some. Don't say some when you mean a few. And don't say a few when you mean just one.

They say the tongues of dying men enforce attention like deep harmony. Their words are scarce, they're seldom spent in vain For they breathe truth that breathe their words in pain. How well he could have applied this passage to the last words of Jesus on the cross.

Wow," said Adrian. He sat down on the bed and tested its bounciness, giving it a nod of approval. "This is amazing. What do you think, buttercup?" "I have no words," I said honestly. He patted the spot beside him. "Want to try it out?

That's ridiculous." Especially the part about Christian being manly.

Los celos hacen que las personas hagan y digan cosas estúpidas

I is reading it hundreds of times,' the BFG said. 'And I is still reading it and teaching new words to myself and how to write them. It is the most scrumdiddlyumptious story.' Sophie took the book out of his hand. 'Nicholas Nickleby,' she read aloud. 'By Dahl's Chickens,' the BFG said.

A FAMOUS SWORD SWALLOWER FROM AFGHANISTAN WHO IS NOW TEACHING ME TO EAT MY WORDS (WHAT YOU DO IS YOU TAKE THE S OFF THE BEGINNING OF THE SWORD AND PUT IT ON THE END BEFORE YOU SWALLOW IT).