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.

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.

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."

Known by the sobriquet of "The Artful Dodger."

Known by the sobriquet of "The Artful Dodger."

I have a passion for the name of "Mary,"
For once it was a magic sound to me,
read more

I have a passion for the name of "Mary,"
For once it was a magic sound to me,
And still it half calls up the realms of fairy,
Where I beheld what never was to be.

Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. The talent of a writer is his ability read more

Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. The talent of a writer is his ability to give them their separate names, identities, personalities and have them relate to other characters living with him.

I can call nothing by name if that is not his name. I call a cat
a cat, and read more

I can call nothing by name if that is not his name. I call a cat
a cat, and Rollet a rogue.
[Fr., Je ne puis rien nommer si ce n'est par son nom;
J'appelle un chat un chat, et Rollet un fripon.]

Old age is . . . a lot of crossed off names in an address book.

Old age is . . . a lot of crossed off names in an address book.

Some to the fascination of a name,
Surrender judgment hoodwinked.

Some to the fascination of a name,
Surrender judgment hoodwinked.