Quotes about wording
page 93

Percy Bysshe Shelley photo

“The word of God has fenced about all crimes with Holiness.”

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Romantic poet

Percy Bysshe Shelley. Queen Mab https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Queen_Mab/Canto_VII

Paulo Coelho photo
Paulo Coelho photo
Paulo Coelho photo
Donald J. Trump photo

“I know words. I have the best words.”

Donald J. Trump (1946) 45th President of the United States of America

2015
Source: Speech in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn283OjPb1g, 30 December 2015, reported by Gawker https://gawker.com/yet-another-bold-claim-from-donald-trump-i-know-words-1750331997 and The Daily Caller https://dailycaller.com/2015/12/30/trump-i-know-words-i-have-the-best-words-obama-is-stupid-video/, among others.

Karen Armstrong photo

“The word qur’an means “recitation.””

Karen Armstrong (1944) author and comparative religion scholar from Great Britain

It was not designed for private perusal, but like most scriptures, it was meant to be read aloud, and the sound was an essential part of the sense. Poetry was important in Arabia. The poet was the spokesman, social historian, and cultural authority of his tribe, and over the years the Arabs had learned how to listen to a recitation and had developed a highly sophisticated critical ear.
Muhammad: A Prophet of Our Times
Muhammad: A Biography of The Prophet (2001)

“It speaks to our feelings and imaginations, as it were by suggestion; reaching for this very reason depths of our being quite beyond the power of mere words.”

Walter Raymond Spalding (1865–1962) American music pedagogue and author

On instrumental music, page 2 https://books.google.com/books?id=pQARAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA2.
Music: An Art and a Language (1920), Preliminary Considerations (Ch. I)

Buckminster Fuller photo

“I have to ask... are you familiar with the word “synergy?””

Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American architect, systems theorist, author, designer, inventor and futurist

1960s, Presentation to U.S. Congressional Sub-Committee on World Game (1969)

Buckminster Fuller photo

“I find all of our world society is operating exclusively in parts. We know this because the word synergy is unknown popularly and it is the only word that means “behavior of wholes unpredicted by behavior of their parts.””

Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American architect, systems theorist, author, designer, inventor and futurist

This proves that society does not even think that it has a need for such a word. This discloses that society does not think that there are behaviors of wholes unpredicted by the parts. It thinks statistics and probability are all that we need but if “probability” and “statistics” were of any power at all we could not have a stock market or gambling for we would know exactly how things are coming out and no one would bet against the probability.
1960s, Presentation to U.S. Congressional Sub-Committee on World Game (1969)

Ayuel Monykuch photo
Louis Portella Mbuyu photo

“It is not enough to proclaim the word of God without putting it into practice in every Christian’s daily life. The word of God has to be lived in every person’s daily activities and in communion with other people.”

Louis Portella Mbuyu (1942) Congolese catholic bishop

homily at the celebration of the Mass to mark the Golden Jubilee anniversary of Dei Verbum https://cnsng.org/makepdf.php?tab=1365 (November 23, 2015)

Barbara Stanwyck photo

“People talk about 'my career,' but 'career' is too pompous a word. It was a job, and I have always felt very privileged to be paid for what I love doing.”

Barbara Stanwyck (1907–1990) American actress

As quoted in "Barbara Stanwyck: 'I'm a Tomorrow Woman" by Aljean Harmetz, The New York Times (March 22, 1981), p. A1

Jerry Seinfeld photo

“Poetry is bad standup. It's carefully chosen words that have no laugh at the end.”

Jerry Seinfeld (1954) American comedian and actor

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (2012 — Present), Season 9 (2017)

Menotti Lerro photo

“If God entrusted his word to priests, it’s easy to explain why the world refuses to listen to it.”

Menotti Lerro (1980) Italian poet

Donna Giovanna, Act IV, scene ii.
Theater Quotes

Menotti Lerro photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Yukio Mishima photo

“Body and spirit have never blended.
Never in physical action have I ever found the chilling satisfaction of words.”

Yukio Mishima (1925–1970) Japanese author

[At the movie's ending, speaking to the soldiers]
Final address (1970)

Rebecca Lim photo

“The only thing I can say is, I'm not someone who draws a very clear line. I'm actually a very forgiving person. Once the trust is broken, it's difficult for me to mend the trust. I'm also someone who really believes that action speaks louder than words.”

Rebecca Lim (1986) Singaporean actress

As quoted in "My conscience is clear: Rebecca Lim on 'misunderstanding' with ex-BFF Desmond Tan" in Asia One (28 October 2020) https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/my-conscience-clear-rebecca-lim-misunderstanding-ex-bff-desmond-tan

Frithjof Schuon photo
Frithjof Schuon photo
Miri Yu photo

“The word "interview" is written as taking material. If you come in contact with it like you want to take such material, it will be transmitted. So, instead of taking material, you are I think it's all about listening with the desire to know and listen to your story.”

Miri Yu (1968) Zainichi Korean writer

As quoted in "For those who have no place to live" A story spun by Miri Yu" in Teller Report (17 December 2020) https://www.tellerreport.com/life/2020-12-17-%0A---%22for-those-who-have-no-place-to-live%22-a-story-spun-by-miri-yu-%0A--.B1br_RudnD.html

Johann Kaspar Lavater photo

“Actions, looks, words, steps, form the alphabet by which you may spell characters.”

Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss poet

No. 637
Aphorisms on Man (1788)

Matt Ridley photo

“In other words, a record of our past is etched into our genes.”

Source: Genome (1999), Chapter 2 “Species” (p. 35)

Eliphas Levi photo

“There is a true and a false science, a Divine and an Infernal Magic – in other words, one which is delusive and tenebrous.”

Eliphas Levi (1810–1875) French writer

Miscellaneous Quotes On the Subjects of Magic and Magicians
Source: Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magi Part I: The Doctrine of Transcendental Magic By Eliphas Levi (Alphonse Louis Constant), Translated by A. E. Waite, England, Rider & Company, England, 1896, p. 3

Robert Sheckley photo
Edward Bulwer-Lytton photo

“Love hath no need of words.”

Act I, Scene II
Richelieu (1839)

Art Evans (actor) photo
Emmanuel Marie Philippe Louis Lafont photo

“I can testify to the fertility of the Word among the small and the humble.”

Emmanuel Marie Philippe Louis Lafont (1945) Catholic bishop

Catholics should become ‘lovers of the Word,' bishops’ synod says https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/14021/catholics-should-become-lovers-of-the-word-bishops-synod-says (9 October 2008)

Arsenius the Great photo

“While still living in the palace, Abba Arsenius prayed to God in these words, "Lord, lead me in the way of salvation." And a voice came saying to him, "Arsenius, flee from men and you will be saved."”

Arsenius the Great (354–449) Desert Father

Sayings of the Desert Fathers, as translated by Benedicta Ward, SLG (Cistercian Publications: 1975), Saying 1, Page 9

Penn Badgley photo

“Honestly, for me, acting is just a very spiritual thing where I’m just present with the words I read on the screen, and when it’s awful and it kind of makes your skin crawl, then that’s what comes up and that’s what I do.”

Penn Badgley (1986) American actor and musician

Source: "Penn Badgley weighs in on the worst thing his 'Gossip Girl' character ever did" in TODAY https://www.today.com/popculture/penn-badgley-worst-thing-dan-humphrey-did-gossip-girl-t235509 (22 October 2021)

Ken Wilber photo

“Whenever the internal dialogue stops, the world collapses, and extraordinary facets of ourselves surface, as though they had been kept heavily guarded by our words.”

Source: The Wheel of Time: Shamans of Ancient Mexico, Their Thoughts About Life, Death and the Universe], (1998), Quotations from "Tales of Power" (Chapter 10)

“A warrior considers himself already dead, so there is nothing for him to lose. The worst has already happened to him, therefore he's clear and calm; judging him by his acts or by his words, one would never suspect that he has witnessed everything.”

Source: The Wheel of Time: Shamans of Ancient Mexico, Their Thoughts About Life, Death and the Universe], (1998), Quotations from "Tales of Power" (Chapter 10)

“Solace, haven, fear, all of these are words which have created moods that one has learned to accept without ever questioning their value.”

Source: The Wheel of Time: Shamans of Ancient Mexico, Their Thoughts About Life, Death and the Universe], (1998), Quotations from "Tales of Power" (Chapter 10)

George Harrison photo

“The money we raised was secondary. The main thing was, we spread the word and helped get the war ended ... What we did show was that musicians and people are more humane than politicians.”

George Harrison (1943–2001) British musician, former member of the Beatles

Source: George Harrison, 1992 in Joshua M. Greene, Here Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison, John Wiley & Sons (Hoboken, NJ, 2006; ISBN 978-0-470-12780-3).

Bill Maher photo

“Words have meaning, but not anymore. And when I hear 'transphobic,' 'phobic' has a meaning: Fear. I'm not transphobic if I merely disagree with you. It's not hate.”

Bill Maher (1956) American stand-up comedian

New Rule: Andrew Yang & John McWhorter on Dave Chappelle and 'Transphobia' (2021)

Pierre Emmanuel Félix Chazal photo

“I'm still working, but we have to start by putting forward a diplomatic arrangement. This point obtained, we would have a good chance of success. For the moment, the Belgian shipping word in China should not be used at any price.”

Pierre Emmanuel Félix Chazal (1808–1892) Belgian politician (1808-1892)

Source: All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), 5. A prospectus by the military Chazal and Brialmont, The Importance of General Chazal in Colonial Politics. http://www.ethesis.net/leopold_II/leopold_II.htm#2.%20 Minister Chazal, who had little ambition in an almost impossible Chinese adventure, Confronting the French practicalities and the British stubbornness of that expedition was most likely the last thing on his mind. Even the experienced king had already given up all hope. The enthusiastic young Leopold did not give up and started to advise the minister himself. KMLKG, Papiers Chazal, 111/13, the Duke of Brabant to Chazal, October 4, 1859.

Leopold II of Belgium photo

“I'm still working, but we have to start by putting forward a diplomatic arrangement. This point obtained, we would have a good chance of success. For the moment, the Belgian shipping word in China should not be used at any price.”

Leopold II of Belgium (1835–1909) King of the Belgians

Quotes related to the Belgian Colonial Empire
Source: All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), 5. A prospectus by the military Chazal and Brialmont, The Importance of General Chazal in Colonial Politics. http://www.ethesis.net/leopold_II/leopold_II.htm#2.%20 Minister Chazal, who had little ambition in an almost impossible Chinese adventure, Confronting the French practicalities and the British stubbornness of that expedition was most likely the last thing on his mind. Even the experienced king had already given up all hope. The enthusiastic young Leopold did not give up and started to advise the minister himself. KMLKG, Papiers Chazal, 111/13, the Duke of Brabant to Chazal, October 4, 1859.

Al-Tabari photo
Al-Tabari photo

“I have fabricated things against God and have imputed to Him words which He has not spoken.”

Al-Tabari (839–923) influential Persian scholar, historian and exegete of the Qur'an

Source: The History of Al-Tabari, Volume VI, p. 111. ( al-Tabari's History of the Prophets and Kings)

Jesus photo

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Jesus (-7–30 BC) Jewish preacher and religious leader, central figure of Christianity

Mark 13:31, NWT
New Testament, The Gospel of Mark

Edward G. Robinson photo
Seneca the Younger photo

“Prove your words by your deeds.”

Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium (Moral Letters to Lucilius), Letter XX: On practicing what you preach

“Blind faith is just another word for slavery.”

Genevieve Cogman (1972) novelist and game designer

Source: The Burning Page (2016), Chapter 25 (p. 338)

Thomas Aquinas photo

“Now, as the Word of God is the Son of God, so the love of God is the Holy Spirit.”

Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican scholastic philosopher of the Roman Catholic Church

Sermon on the Apostles' Creed (c. 1273), Art. 8

Steven Crowder photo
Steven Crowder photo

“As though adding the word democratic in front of a word changes what it means.”

Steven Crowder (1987) American actor

Source: https://www.prageru.com/video/democratic-socialism-is-still-socialism/

Volodymyr Viytyshyn photo

“One of the missions of the underground priests was to encourage these people and to tell them that yes, we're suffering, but we're doing this for Christ. That's why the Church survived; people were humans, in all the best sense of the word.”

Volodymyr Viytyshyn (1959) Polish archbishop

Source: In becoming a priest, you were agreeing to be a martyr https://osvnews.com/2018/08/15/underground-period-marks-ukrainian-church/ (15 August 2018)

Charles Stross photo

“Freedom? The word tastes bitter. What’s freedom ever done for me? Seems to me I’ve been free almost all my life, but what has it gotten me? Really?”

Source: Saturn's Children (2008), Chapter 15, “”Revising My Opinions” (pp. 253-254)
Context: She’s silent for only a moment. “Ask not what it’s gotten you, kid. Ask what it’s saved you from.”

Vera Stanley Alder photo

“Whatever possibilities and potentialities are latent today, the fact remains that the last word and the final decision will rest with us — the people.”

Vera Stanley Alder (1898–1984) British artist

Source: Humanity Comes of Age, A study of Individual and World Fulfillment (1950), Chapter I, Secrets Behind History

Geling Yan photo

“I like to play with words. In English, there's only one or two ways to say something; in Chinese there are 30 ways.”

Geling Yan (1958) Chinese writer and screenwriter

Source: "Turning Loss into Beauty: The Tragedies of Geling Yan" in The Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB930264290705115630 (25 June 1999)

Bill Maher photo
Judith Sheindlin photo

“Does the word "shyster" mean anything to you?”

Judith Sheindlin (1942) American lawyer, judge, television personality, and author

Quotes From Judge Judy Cases, Being Cocky
Context: To a law student

George Bernard Shaw photo

“This is the real enemy, the invader from the East, the Druze, the ruffian, the oriental parasite; in a word: the Jew.”

George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish playwright

London Morning Post, December 3, 1925
1900s

Paul R. Halmos photo

“I like words more than numbers, and I always did.”

Paul R. Halmos (1916–2006) American mathematician

Source: I Want to be a Mathematician: An Automathography (1985)

Henry Miller photo
William Cowper photo
Padma Lakshmi photo

“I would love to write more children’s books. I think children can understand complex things so long as you explain them in words they can wrap themselves around.”

Padma Lakshmi (1970) Indian-born American author, actress, model, television host and executive producer

Source: "What I’ve Learned: Padma Lakshmi" in Esquire https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a37862708/padma-lakshmi-what-ive-learned-interview-2021/ (2 November 2021)

China Miéville photo

“It’s beyond words, there’s no such thing.”

Source: Embassytown (2011), Chapter 0.3 (p. 29)

Alexis Karpouzos photo
Bo Xilai photo
Yemi Adamolekun photo

“I believe there is power in the words that we say, and our words have enough creative power such that what we say and believe in our minds & hearts shape our reality.”

Yemi Adamolekun Executive Director of Enough is Enough

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/10/nigeria-61-eie-11-light-hope-power-and-voice-opinion/ Speaking about Nigeria (October 18 2021 )

“There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours. I'm fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred”

Halyna Hutchins (1979–2021) Ukrainian-American cinematographer and investigative journalist

Source: 22 October 2021 https://twitter.com/AlecBaldwin/status/1451572461787439106 by Alec Baldwin the day after Alec killed her with a firearm

Morrissey photo

“I don't recognise such terms as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, and I think it's important that there's someone in pop music who's like that. These words do a great deal of damage, they confuse people and they make people feel unhappy, so I want to do away with them.”

Morrissey (1959) English singer

Source: [239, The Queer Encyclopedia of Music, Dance, and Musical Theater, Claude Summers, Cleis Press Start, 1 November 2004, 9781573448758] In interviews etc., Sexuality

Greta Thunberg photo

“I am pleased to announce that I've decided to go net-zero on swear words and bad language. In the event that I should say something inappropriate I pledge to compensate that by saying something nice. #COP26,”

Greta Thunberg (2003) Swedish climate change activist

Source: Greta Thunberg says she's going 'net-zero' on cussing after COP26 sing-along, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/03/uk/greta-thunberg-net-zero-swearing-cop26-intl-scli-gbr/index.html, November 3, 2021

Mateo Alemán photo
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky photo
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky photo
Charles Bukowski photo

“the words have come and gone,
I sit ill.
the phone rings, the cats sleep.
Linda vacuums.
I am waiting to live,
waiting to die.
I wish I could ring in some bravery.
it's a lousy fix”

Charles Bukowski (1920–1994) American writer

Source: Betting on the Muse: Poems and Stories (1996), Lines from "So now?" - p.402 (circa 1994. He died in March 1994, aged 73.)

Douglas Murray photo

“Disagreement is not oppression. Argument is not assault. Words – even provocative or repugnant ones – are not violence. The answer to speech we do not like is more speech.”

Douglas Murray (1979) British political commentator and far-right activist

Source: The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity (2019)

Ray Comfort photo

“I think the greatest oxymoron on the face of this earth is to use the word 'science' along with 'evolution.'”

Ray Comfort (1949) New Zealand-born Christian minister and evangelist

Evolution's a fairy tale for grown ups... It's unprovable, it's not been proved.
Source: AronRa vs Ray Comfort (September 17th, 2012), Radio Paul's Radio Rants

Jack Vance photo
Jack Vance photo
Kate Bush photo
Gloria E. Anzaldúa photo

“By using the word "dialogue" I hope to be able to believe that the other has something worthwhile to say. Engaging in dialogue does not mean renouncing our own ideas and traditions but rather, renouncing the claim that they alone are valid or absolute.”

Paul Donoghue (1949) Roman Catholic bishop

Source: New Year, New Resolution https://www.cookislandsnews.com/opinion/editorials/new-year-new-resolution/ (7 January 2022)

Edgar Guest photo
Gilbert O'Sullivan photo

“From the looks you're giving me
I can tell, as well see
if I've done something you think's wrong:
no words need be conveyed.
Then again, when we embrace,
from the look that's on your face
if heaven is a place on earth
right here is where it's been.”

Gilbert O'Sullivan (1946) Irish singer-songwriter

"No Way" (song)
Song lyrics
Source: Gilbert O'Sullivan, "No Way" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5mPUlZ4vRE (song on YouTube)

Gilbert O'Sullivan photo

“Once I was hailed as a prodigal son.
In other words, loved by everyone.
Now it's so different:
wherever I go, nobody wants to know.
Tried having meetings. Running about.
Same as I did when I started out.
Now though, it's different:
wherever I go, nobody wants to know.”

Gilbert O'Sullivan (1946) Irish singer-songwriter

"Nobody Wants To Know" (song)
Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Nobody Wants To Know" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJDTLHMsG2g (song on YouTube)
Song lyrics

Filipe Neri Ferrão photo

“Follow the path of the saints, they left their comfort zones to serve the people of God, sharing with them the Word of God which heals and gives life.”

Filipe Neri Ferrão (1953) seventh Roman Catholic Patriarch of the East Indies

Source: Biblical Year in Goa, impetus for Christian proclamation and mission http://fides.org/en/news/69135-ASIA_INDIA_Biblical_Year_in_Goa_impetus_for_Christian_proclamation_and_mission (30 November 2020)

Nassim Nicholas Taleb photo
Gilbert O'Sullivan photo

“Clair, the moment I met you
I swear, I felt as if something somewhere
had happened to me
which I couldn't see
And then, the moment I met you again,
I knew in my heart that we were friends,
it had to be so
it couldn't be no
But try as hard as I might do, I don't know why
you get to me in a way I can't describe.
Words mean so little when you look up and smile.”

Gilbert O'Sullivan (1946) Irish singer-songwriter

"Clair" (song)
(+ Live performance in Japan, 1993. On YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpdBX-u1dv8
Song lyrics
Source: Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Clair" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmeZaAry830 (song on YouTube.))

Edgar Guest photo
Edgar Guest photo