Descriptive Failure Quotes

Words are cold, muddy toads trying to understand sprites dancing in a field-but they're all we have.

The wonders of the Grand Canyon cannot be adequately represented in symbols of speech, nor by speech itself. The resources of the graphic art are taxed beyond their powers in attempting to portray its features. Language and illustration combined must fail.

Using words to describe magic is like using a screwdriver to cut roast beef.

I dreamt that I could paint you with words, but there were no colors bright enough, black or white enough, blue or green enough...they didn't mean enough

At this high moment, ability failed my capacity to describe.

I see many people trying to write well about the wilderness, and essentially failing. To me there are basically two aspects of a failed outdoor story. One is the phony epiphany on the mountain top.

If a literary man puts together two words about music, one of them will be wrong.

I hate my verses, every line, every word. Oh pale and brittle pencils ever to try One grass-blade's curve, or the throat of one bird That clings to twig, ruffled against white sky. Oh cracked and twilight mirrors ever to catch One color, one glinting flash, of the splendor of things.

How pathetic it is to describe these things which can't truly be described.

How to explain? How to describe? Even the omniscient viewpoint quails.

The names for things don't come first. Words stagger after, hopelessly trying to become the sensation.

It is at this point that normal language gives up, and goes and has a drink.

I doubt whether I ever read any description of scenery which gave me an idea of the place described.

Sometimes words are not enough. There are some circumstances so utterly wretched that I cannot describe them in sentences or paragraphs or even a whole series of books.