A word and a stone let go cannot be recalled
—Spanish Proverb
The coldest word was once a glowing new metaphor
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Words are also actions, and actions are a kind of words
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Words, when well chosen, have so great a force in them, that a description often gives us more lively ideas than the sight of things themselves.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
My task which I am trying to achieve is by the power of the written word, to make you hear, to make you feel—it is, before all, to make you see. That—and no more, and it is everything.
—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) Polish-born British Novelist
A writer lives in awe of words for they can be cruel or kind, and they can change their meanings right in front of you. They pick up flavors and odors like butter in a refrigerator.
—Anonymous
A man says what he knows, a woman says what will please.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
Words are women, deeds are men
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
An average English word is four letters and a half. By hard, honest labor I’ve dug all the large words out of my vocabulary and shaved it down till the average is three and a half… I never write “metropolis” for seven cents, because I can get the same money for “city.” I never write “policeman,” because I can get the same price for “cop.”… I never write “valetudinarian” at all, for not even hunger and wretchedness can humble me to the point where I will do a word like that for seven cents; I wouldn’t do it for fifteen.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Words are wise men’s counters, they do but reckon by them: but they are the money of fools.
—Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English Political Philosopher
I like good strong words that mean something.
—Louisa May Alcott (1832–88) American Novelist
Man is a creature who lives not upon bread alone, but principally by catch words.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.
—John Adams (1735–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Words today are like the shells and rope of seaweed which a child brings home glistening from the beach and which in an hour have lost their luster.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
Volatility of words is carelessness in actions; words are the wings of actions.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
The two most beautiful words in the English language are: “Check Enclosed.”
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
I have never been hurt by what I have not said.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
By words the mind is winged.
—Aristophanes (447–386 BCE) Greek Comic Playwright
One forgets words as one forgets names. One’s vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die.
—Evelyn Waugh (1903–66) British Novelist, Essayist, Biographer
All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
A broken bone can heal, but the wound a word opens can fester forever
—Jessamyn West
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-born British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
A word to the wise is enough, and many words won’t fill a bushel.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
I find it difficult to believe that words have no meaning in themselves, hard as I try. Habits of a lifetime are not lightly thrown aside.
—Stuart Chase (1888–1985) American Economist, Engineer, Author
There can be no doubt that distrust of words is less harmful than unwarranted trust in them. Besides, to distrust words, and indict them for the horrors that might slumber unobtrusively within them—isn’t this, after all, the true vocation of the intellectual?
—Vaclav Havel (1936–2011) Czech Dramatist, Statesman
Anger repressed can poison a relationship as surely as the cruelest words.
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist
We should have a great many fewer disputes in the world if words were taken for what they are, the signs of our ideas only, and not for things themselves.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
Wine makes a man better pleased with himself. I do not say that it makes him more pleasing to others… This is one of the disadvantages of wine, it makes a man mistake words for thoughts.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.
—Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) South African Political leader
Be generous with kindly words, especially about those who are absent.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Men of few words are the best men.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Words are chameleons, which reflect the color of their environment.
—Learned Hand (1872–1961) American Judge, Judicial Philosopher
Words are the coins making up the currency of sentences, and there are always too many small coins.
—Jules Renard (1864–1910) French Writer, Diarist
The safest words are always those which bring us most directly to facts.
—Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842–1933) American Clergyman, Civic Reformer
Many a true word is spoken in jest.
—Common Proverb
One kind word can warm three winter months.
—Japanese Proverb
He who seldom speaks, and with one calm well-timed word can strike dumb the loquacious, is a genius or a hero.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Words once printed assume a life of their own.
—Wilma Askinas
The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them.
—Stephen King (b.1947) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Screenwriter, Columnist, Film Director
Words mean nothing. Action is the only thing. Doing. That’s the only thing.
—Ernest J. Gaines (1933–2019) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
A proverb is much matter decocted into a few words.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Words are the money of fools.
—Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) English Political Philosopher
Deeds are fruits, words are leaves
—English Proverb
If a word in the dictionary were misspelled, how would we know?
—Steven Wright (b.1955) American Comedian, Actor, Writer
Words may show a man’s wit, but actions his meaning.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
A cutting word is worse than a bowstring; a cut may heal, but the cut of the tongue does not
—African Proverb
Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of the dictionary.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it’s about, but the inner music that words make.
—Truman Capote (1924–84) American Novelist