Through the lack of attaching myself to words, my thoughts remain nebulous most of the time. They sketch vague, pleasant shapes and then are swallowed up; I forget them almost immediately.
—Jean-Paul Sartre
One should use common words to say uncommon things.
—Arthur Schopenhauer
The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.
—Thomas Jefferson
All knowledge which ends in words will die as quickly as it came to life, with the exception of the written word: which is its mechanical part.
—Leonardo Da Vinci
There is no more visible sign of a person’s success on the path of goodness than when he restrains his anger and refuses to repay an unkind word with an unkind word, or refuses to strike back at a person who’s offended him.
—Leo Tolstoy
Words are animals, alive with a will of their own.
—Carl Jung
There are certain words which are nearer and dearer to a man than any others.
—Nikolai Gogol
Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o-er wrought heart and bids it break.
—William Shakespeare
Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.
—Blaise Pascal
Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions, but those who kindly reprove thy faults.
—Socrates
When you wish to instruct, be brief; that men’s minds take in quickly what you say, learn its lesson, and retain it faithfully. Every word that is unnecessary only pours over the side of a brimming mind.
—Cicero
There are no fixtures in nature. The universe is fluid and volatile. Permanence is but a word of degrees.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Be deeply sensible of your own weaknesses, follies, and imperfections; as well as of the sin remaining in your heart, and cleaving to all your words and actions. And let this spirit appear in all you speak or do: Be clothed with humility.
—John Wesley
Labour to be of a calm, dispassionate temper; gentle towards all men; and let the gentleness of your disposition appear in the whole tenor of your conversation. Let all your words and all your actions be regulated thereby.
—John Wesley
At this hour, and from this hour, do his will: Fulfil his word, in this and in all things! I entreat you, in the name of the Lord Jesus, act up to the dignity of your calling!
—John Wesley
The cross covers, the blood cleanses, and His eternal love will keep that which we have committed unto Him, until that day. Is not this a good word with which to end the year?
—Amy Carmichael
Our Lord has many ways of working. The only thing that can matter is to be obedient to what, so far as we know His will, is His word for us, and to keep to it till He directs otherwise.
—Amy Carmichael
My God shall supply all your need according to His riches (Phil. 4:19). We lay those words before our Lord and we say to Him very earnestly, And now, O Lord, do as You have said.
—Amy Carmichael
As for God, His way is perfect—that is the substance of the words. And if His way be perfect we need no explanation.
—Amy Carmichael
Do nothing on which you cannot pray for a blessing. Every action of a Christian that is good, is sanctified by the word and prayer. It becomes not a Christian to do anything so trivial, that he cannot pray over it.
—John Wesley
Have we a bitter zeal, inciting us to strive sharply and passionately with them that are out of the way? Or is our zeal the flame of love, so as to direct all our words with sweetness, lowliness, and meekness of wisdom?
—John Wesley
Weep with them that weep. If you can do no more, at least mix your tears with theirs; and give them healing words, such as may calm their minds, and mitigate their sorrows.
—John Wesley
I have a Savior; though I sought
Through earth and air and sea,
I could not find a word, a thought,
To show Him worthily.
But planted here in rock and moss
I see the Sign of utmost loss;
I hear a word—On Calvary’s Cross
Love gave Himself for thee.
—Amy Carmichael
Lest I should faint before the race be run,
Lest I should quail before the fight be won,
O heavenly Intercessor and my Lord,
Fulfill to me Thy comfortable word—
Thy Peter’s word. How can I be afraid
If Thou dost say to me, But I have prayed?
—Amy Carmichael
So let us praise Him now, though it may be from under the harrow, from the depths, from anywhere. We shall never have the chance again to love Him in the peace of a great contentment, with the word ringing in our ear, And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me.
—Amy Carmichael
We know that the temptation to fear is a very old one; millions of people have had it. But they have conquered, and so will you, if you take our Saviour’s words of strength to yourself, and stay yourself on them.
—Amy Carmichael
The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.
—Mark Twain
The wise Christian will watch for opportunities to do good, to speak the life-bringing word to sinners, to pray the rescuing prayer of intercession.
—AW Tozer
The triune God produces all things in creation and new creation by His Word and Spirit. All things thus speak to us of God.
—Herman Bavinck
It was not to the unsaved that the words “Do not fret” were spoken, but to God-fearing persons capable of understanding spiritual things. We Christians need to watch & pray lest we fall into this temptation by an irritable spirit under the stress & strain of life.
—AW Tozer