Jean de la Bruyere Quotes

In labouring to be concise, I become obscure.

I used to tell my husband that, if he could make me understand something, it would be clear to all the other people in the country.

Henry Clay's eloquence did not consist, as many fine specimens of eloquence do, of types and figures, of antitheses and elegant arrangements of words and sentences, but rather of that deeply earnest and impassioned tone and manner which can proceed only through conviction in the speaker of the justice and importance of his cause. This it is that truly touches the chords of sympathy; and those who heard Mr. Clay never failed to be moved by it, or ever after forgot the impression. All his [oratorical] efforts were made for practical effect. He never spoke merely to be heard.

Trying to use words, and every attempt Is a wholly new start, and a different kind of failure Because one has only learnt to get the better of words For the thing one no longer has to say, or the way in which One is no longer disposed to say it. And so each venture Is a new beginning, a raid on the inarticulate With shabby equipment always deteriorating In the general mess of imprecision of feeling.

Eloquence is the power to translate a truth into language perfectly intelligible to the person to whom you speak.

Clarity is the most important thing to me - in thinking - and so I try in the books to be as clear as possible.

Great things only require to be simply told, for they are spoiled by emphasis; but little things should be clothed in lofty language, as they are only kept up by expression, tone of voice, and style of delivery.

Never be so brief as to become obscure.

Grasp the subject, the words will follow.

Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way.

Everything that can be said, can be said clearly.

One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.

Why do we embroider everything we say with special emphasis when all we really need to do is simply say what needs to he said? Of course the fact is that there is very little that needs to be said.

The poorest experience is rich enough for all the purposes of expressing thought

I'd come to realize that all our troubles spring from our failure to use plain, clear-cut language.

Is listening important? I can't think of a single walk of life where it wouldn't be.

Bad terminology is the enemy of good thinking.

Twenty to one offend more in writing too much than too little.

We shall never understand one another until we reduce the language to seven words.

The art of saying well what one thinks is different from the faculty of thinking. The latter may be very deep and lofty and far- reaching, while the former is altogether wanting.

The less there is of eloquence, the more there is of love.

Hey can mean anything. It can mean yes, it can mean maybe, it could mean no, it could mean next week. Hey, the bottom line is you have to understand me to understand hey.

I wanted to tell him so. Find the right words, string them together in the ideal way, knowing that here they would have the best chance of sounding perfect.

Of all the talents bestowed upon men, none is so precious as the gift of oratory !!

Eloquence is a painting of thought; and thus those who, after having painted it, add something more, make a picture instead of a portrait.