Quote
The oldest, shortest words 'yes' and 'no' are those which requires the most thought.
Attributed to:
Pythagoras
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The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. It is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning. Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration. A country can be judged by the quality of its proverbs. The words of truth are always paradoxical. The word good has many meanings. For example, if a man were to shoot his grandmother at a range of five hundred yards, I should call him a good shot, but not necessarily a good man. The limits of language are the limits of one's world. Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. If one could only teach the English how to talk, and the Irish how to listen, society here would be quite civilized. If you care about being thought credible and intelligent, do not use complex language where simpler language will do.