• “Abandoning abusive speech, he abstains from abusive speech. He speaks words that are soothing to the ear, that are affectionate, that go to the heart, that are polite, appealing and pleasing to people at large.

    Abandoning idle chatter, he abstains from idle chatter. He speaks in season, speaks what is factual, what is in accordance with the goal, the Dhamma, and the Vinaya. He speaks words worth treasuring, seasonable, reasonable, circumscribed, connected with the goal.” — Anonymous
  • “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” — Hans Hofmann
  • “To understand matters rightly we should understand their details, and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.” — François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld
  • “Be pitiful, for every man is fighting a hard battle.” — Ian Maclaren