I cannot say the crow is white,
But needs must call a spade a spade.

I cannot say the crow is white,
But needs must call a spade a spade.

A good name, like good will, is attained by many actions and may be lost by one.

A good name, like good will, is attained by many actions and may be lost by one.

You should never name an animal which is not yours to keep, or which you intend to eat.

You should never name an animal which is not yours to keep, or which you intend to eat.

I decided that I would be one of the biggest new names; and I actually had some little fancy business read more

I decided that I would be one of the biggest new names; and I actually had some little fancy business cards printed up to announce it, "Count Basie. Beware, the Count is Here."

I sometimes think I was born to live up to my name. How could I be anything else but what read more

I sometimes think I was born to live up to my name. How could I be anything else but what I am having been named Madonna? I would either have ended up a nun or this.

And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My
name is Legion: for we are read more

And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My
name is Legion: for we are many.

Miss: A title with which we brand unmarried women to indicate that they are in the market. Miss, Misses (Mrs.) read more

Miss: A title with which we brand unmarried women to indicate that they are in the market. Miss, Misses (Mrs.) and Mister (Mr.) are the three most distinctly disagreeable words in the language, in sound and sense. Two are corruptions of Mistress, the other of Master. If we must have them, let us be consistent and give one to the unmarried man. I venture to suggest Mush, abbreviated to MH.

"Whose name was writ in water!" What large laughter
Among the immortals when that word was brought!
read more

"Whose name was writ in water!" What large laughter
Among the immortals when that word was brought!
Then when his fiery spirit rose flaming after,
High toward the topmost heaven of heavens up-caught!
"All hail! our younger brother!" Shakespeare said,
And Dante nodded his imperial head.

Proper names are poetry in the raw. Like all poetry they are untranslatable.

Proper names are poetry in the raw. Like all poetry they are untranslatable.