Writing is not a profession but a vocation of unhappiness

Writing is not a profession but a vocation of unhappiness

'Tis thus the mercury of man is fix'd,
Strong grows the virtue with his nature mix'd.

'Tis thus the mercury of man is fix'd,
Strong grows the virtue with his nature mix'd.

Sometimes a concept is baffling not because it is profound but because it is wrong

Sometimes a concept is baffling not because it is profound but because it is wrong

'Ay,' quoth my uncle Gloucester,
'Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace.'
And since, methinks, read more

'Ay,' quoth my uncle Gloucester,
'Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace.'
And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast,
Because sweet flow'rs are slow and weeds make haste.

The act of writing requires a constant plunging back into the shadow of the past where time hovers ghostlike.

The act of writing requires a constant plunging back into the shadow of the past where time hovers ghostlike.

Speech is human nature itself, with none of the artificiality of written language.

Speech is human nature itself, with none of the artificiality of written language.

Gard'ner, for telling me these news of woe,
Pray God the plants thou graft'st may never grow.

Gard'ner, for telling me these news of woe,
Pray God the plants thou graft'st may never grow.

Books are the compasses and telescopes and sextants and charts which othermen have prepared to help us navigate the dangerous read more

Books are the compasses and telescopes and sextants and charts which othermen have prepared to help us navigate the dangerous seas of human life.

It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.

It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.