Guillermo Cabrera Infante Quotes

It depends on what the meaning of “is” is.

It is important that we realize that words have meanings far beyond the dictionary definition.

At a certain point, what people mean when they use a word becomes its meaning.

Language is a mixture of statement and evocation.

No word is absolutely wrong or dirty or insulting. It all depends upon context and intention.

My use of language is part and parcel of my message.

It's important to be precise about words, because of the thought value of them-they frame and shape so much of the way we understand things.

Words have meaning. And their meaning doesn't change.

I guess I'm attracted to more archaic words because they can be imbued with more meaning, because their definition is elusive.

The ambiguities of language, both in terms of vocabulary and syntax, are fascinating: how important connotation is, what is lost and what is gained in the linguistic transition.

The meaning of words has become so blurred by past usage that 'abstract' is identified with 'vague' and 'unreal,' and 'inwardness' with a sort of traditional beatitude... The conception of the word 'plastic' has also been limited by individual interpretations.

The way I write, words can means lots of different things.

Words take on many different meanings.

The secret of it is to read what you've got in front of you. Don't, if you suspect that something has a double meaning, don't pause. Don't put on a leery vocal expression if you know what I mean on radio. Don't sort of do anything other than read it.

Something's that written out is okay, but it's not always a clear indication of what a person means.

Meaning is what essence becomes when it is divorced from the object of reference and wedded to the word.

I got sent some cheese once. I'm not sure if that was saying something about my act, or just because I like cheese.

The ideal, it seems to me, is to show things happening and allow the reader to decide what they mean.

In common use almost every word has many shades of meaning, and therefore needs to be interpreted by the context.

A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged. It is the skin of a living thought and may vary in color and context according to the circumstances and the time in which it is used.

Everything we say has metamessages indicating how our words are to be interpreted: Is this a serious statement or a joke? Does it show annoyance or goodwill? Most of the time, metamessages are communicated and interpreted without notice because, as far as anyone can tell, the speaker and the hearer agree on their meaning.

A picture can say a thousand words but maybe not the correct ones.

It's not in my nature to be too literal.

Text without context is pretext.

It all depends what you mean by.