words Quotes

I think one of the main reasons I write is to do better than ranting. The ranting is the opinion, and the writing is not the opinion. I always say that people's opinions are the worst things about them. The words demand a dignity.

Words do not necessarily make us moral. And there have been presidents before who have stumbled over syntax and looked foolish when the words they have been forced to speak have been their own. But Trump is uniquely stunted. A child listening to two of his speeches could reproduce a third without the use of a dictionary.

The publishing of a book is a worldwide event. The attempt to suppress a book is a worldwide event.

Names, once they are in common use, quickly become mere sounds, their etymology being buried, like so many of the earth's marvels, beneath the dust of habit.

You don't that often see writers being sought out when there are matters of great moment to discuss. And I think that's a loss.

In general, writers shouldn't be killed for what they write, though I can think of exceptions.

It's obvious that I come down on the side of free speech for anybody's work.

Writers and politicians are natural rivals. Both groups try to make the world in their own images; they fight for the same territory.

I always thought of words as art supplies.