“You marvel at the economy and this choice of words. How many ways can you describe the sky and the moon? After Sylvia Plath, what can you say?”

—  Toni Morrison

On British mystery writer Ruth Rendell, The New York Times (6 October 2005)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "You marvel at the economy and this choice of words. How many ways can you describe the sky and the moon? After Sylvia P…" by Toni Morrison?
Toni Morrison photo
Toni Morrison184
American writer 1931–2019

Related quotes

“If you can’t be inconspicuous, be so damned conspicuous that nobody can miss you. And that in itself is a fair concealment. How many people can accurately describe a street riot?”

Marion Zimmer Bradley book The Door Through Space

Source: The Door Through Space (1961), Chapter 7.

Richelle Mead photo

“Rose,” he said, forcibly trying to keep a serious tone, “I can think of many words to describe you, sexy and hot being at the top of the list. You know what’s not on the list? Sane.”

Richelle Mead book Spirit Bound

Source: Spirit Bound

John Angell James photo

“Try how much of the word of God you can understand, and what is more, try how much you can practice. A sincere wish and purpose to do the will of God, will be your best way to know the mind of God.”

John Angell James (1785–1859) British abolitionist

Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 554.

Giacomo Leopardi photo

“What do you do there, moon, in the sky? Tell me what you do, silent moon. When evening comes you rise and go contemplating wastelands; then you set.”

Giacomo Leopardi (1798–1837) Italian poet, philosopher and writer

Kate Moss photo

“It was just the time. It was a swing from more buxom girls like Cindy Crawford and people were shocked to see what they called a 'waif'. What can you say? How many times can you say 'I'm not anorexic'?”

Kate Moss (1974) English model and businesswoman

March, 2003 interview with website Showstudio

Russell Brand photo

“We receive data through five portals, five windows; the house of human consciousness has but five windows. Do you imagine that we will ever perceive all through these five windows? Do you imagine that that which is most important can ever be seen? How do you describe the most important things that have ever happened to you? The moment you knew you loved her: Can you reassemble that magnetic pull with the Lego of light and language? The moment you heard he’d died—can you define it, calcify it, crystallize it, make it live again, or is it at best a kind of taxidermy that language can provide? A stuffed dead effigy with cold unseeing eyes. And Jupiter revolves. And the moon watches, the moon you saw as a child, the moon that hung in the sky when Christ was crucified, the crescent moon, like a tear in heaven as the Prophet heard Allah.”

Russell Brand book Revolution

Revolution (2014)

Chief Seattle photo

“How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land?”

Chief Seattle (1786–1866) Duwamish chief

Misattributed

“Words can never really help you say, what you want them to anyway.”

Dawud Wharnsby (1972) Canadian musician

"Midnight"
The Poets And The Prophet (2006)
Context: Words can never really help you say, what you want them to anyway. And words can never really help you see, what you really want to be.

Cat Stevens photo

“How can I tell you that I love you, I love you
But I can’t think of right words to say.”

Cat Stevens (1948) British singer-songwriter

How Can I Tell You
Song lyrics, Teaser and the Firecat (1971)

Gabriel García Márquez photo

“Interviewer: You describe seemingly fantastic events in such minute detail that it gives them their own reality. Is this something you have picked up from journalism?
García Márquez: That's a journalistic trick which you can also apply to literature. If you say that there are elephants flying in the sky, people are not going to believe you. But if you say that there are four hundred and twenty-five elephants in the sky, people will probably believe you.”

Gabriel García Márquez (1927–2014) Colombian writer

Source: The Paris Review interview (1981), p. 324

Related topics