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
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The last thing a political party gives up is its vocabulary.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
Colors fade, temples crumble, empires fall, but wise words endure.
—Edward Thorndike (1874–1949) American Psychologist
I have never developed indigestion from eating my words.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
A great many people think that polysyllables are a sign of intelligence.
—Barbara Walters (1929–2022) American Broadcast Journalist
A word once uttered can never be recalled.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Among my most prized possessions are words that I have never spoken.
—Orson Scott Card (b.1951) American Author
To be brief is almost a condition of being inspired.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
A man says what he knows, a woman says what will please.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
So difficult it is to show the various meanings and imperfections of words when we have nothing else but words to do it with.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
He that uses many words for the explaining any subject doth, like the cuttlefish, hide himself for the most part in his own ink.
—John Ray (1627–1705) English Naturalist, Theologian
The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them.
—Stephen King (b.1947) American Novelist, Screenwriter, Columnist, Film Director
Words are the voice of the heart.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Our expression and our words never coincide, which is why the animals don’t understand us.
—Malcolm de Chazal (1902–81) Mauritian Writer, Painter, Philosopher
Word of mouth is the best medium of all.
—William Bernbach (1911–82) American Advertising Executive
The 500 most commonly used words have an average of 28 meanings each.
—Unknown
Words are finite organs of the infinite mind. They cannot cover the dimensions of what is in truth. They break, chop, and impoverish it.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
If you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words.
—Chinese Proverb
There’s a great power in words, if you don’t hitch too many of them together.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
A world of facts lies outside and beyond the world of words.
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95) English Biologist
A wise man hears one word and understands two.
—Yiddish Proverb
Dictionaries are like watches; the worst is better than none, and the best cannot be expected to be quite true.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words.
—Philip K. Dick (1928–82) American Writer, Science Fiction Author
A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword.
—Robert Burton (1577–1640) English Scholar, Clergyman
Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things.
—Dan Quayle (b.1947) American Head of State, Politician, Elected Rep
Poetry is the deification of reality.
—Edith Sitwell (1887–1964) English Poet, Critic
Respect for the word – to employ it with scrupulous care and an incorruptible heartfelt love of truth – is essential if there is to be any growth in a society or in the human race.To misuse the word is to show contempt for man. It undermines the bridges and poisons the wells. It causes Man to regress down the long path of his evolution.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
For words are magical formulae. They leave finger marks behind on the brain, which in the twinkling of an eye become the footprints of history. One ought to watch one’ s every word.
—Franz Kafka (1883–1924) Austrian Novelist, Short Story Writer
A word too much always defeats its purpose.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
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