Christopher Hitchens Quotes

The writing is important, but the way you say the line and the pause you give it, the facial expression - all of that is very important.

I don't really care about a song or lyrics; I'm really just interested in the way people emphasize words. That's what makes a strong impact on me.

Singing in Hindi is nice but restrictive. Regional languages are more rhythmic, have a different tone and sound, making it more interesting.

In a certain way, it's the sound of the words, the inflection and the way the song is sung and the way it fits the melody and the way the syllables are on the tongue that has as much of the meaning as the actual, literal words.

Are you trying to give me a hint that I should drop it? I can lose the accent; I just have to really focus on what I'm saying. And I have to talk slowly.

I love talking in an American accent. Even though it hurts my face after a few hours.

Great speech is impassioned; small speech cantankerous.

Choose each word as a precision tool. Consider how it sounds, not how it reads.

A British actor will savour every syllable of a Shakespearean line, while a French actor will drive to the end of a sentence or a speech with a propulsive rhythm: the thing you never say to a French actor is, 'Take your time.'

Mike Tyson and Kool G Rap had lisps - lisps always been cool!

If you listen to people talk, when people actually talk, they talk in melodies. If they get angry, their voice rises, and it's more of a staccato thing. When they ask for something, they're real sweet. It's all music.

In my mind I am eloquent; I can climb intricate scaffolds of words to reach the highest cathedral ceilings and paint my thoughts. But when I open my mouth, everything collapses.

I tried out the unfamiliar syllables. They fit. They cracked in my ears like a fist through ice.

We all have days where we can't pronounce things or give it the emotion it deserves.

I have trouble sometimes watching actors - even when they do a great job - with an accent.

Accents. I'm very good with accents. I'm exceedingly good.

The most difficult problem in conducting is intonation. You must know what is wrong and how to correct it.

People complain about my exclamation points, but I honestly think that's the way people think. I don't think people think in essays; it's one exclamation point to another.

I've learned to mumble with great incoherence.

Accent [emphasis] is the soul of speech; it gives it feeling and truth.

I still have perfect diction!

The most important thing is to make a percussive instrument a singing instrument. Teachers should stress this aspect in their instruction, but it seems that very few of them actually do.

I think the hardest thing about doing an accent, especially with a Missouri accent, is making sure that you're not mumbling with the words so your diction is clear.

Pace, rhythm and timing. Pace, rhythm and timing is what it's about. The content's got to be great, but then it's got to be delivered. It's a tricky thing to do, and it takes a lot of work.

I like to start every sentence with: 'So here's the deal.'