Jerry Spinelli Quotes

I think it's interesting to speak when you have something to say.

I love the right words. I think economy and precision of language are important.

If we’re going to solve the problems of the world, we have to learn how to talk to one another. Poetry is the language at its essence. It’s the bones and the skeleton of the language. It teaches you, if nothing else, how to choose your words.

We've all been hurt by words before. So before you speak, think about how your words might affect someone else.

How well we communicate is determined not by how well we say things but how well we are understood.

Real communication is an attitude, an environment. It is the most interactive of all processes. It requires countless hours of eyeball to eyeball, back and forth. It involves more listening than talking.

Ah, Harry, how often this happens, even between the best of friends! Each of us believes that what he has to say is much more important than anything the other might have to contribute!

If you say three things, you don't say anything.

When a tongue fails to send forth appropriate shafts, there might be a word to act as healer of these.

Apply this simple rule to your conversations: If you wouldn't write it down and sign it, don't say it.

Better say nothing at all. Language is worth a thousand pounds a word!

We rarely repent of speaking little, but often of speaking too much.

You might have mentioned this to me Molly,” said Leonard. “The fact that there are hostile natives on the island.” “I forgot,” said Molly. “You forgot?” said Leonard. “There’s been a lot happening,” said Molly.

Writers talk too much.

Respect is important, if someone has a very clear vision of what they want, as long as they find a way to communicate it, a respectful way…

We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate.

Few things concentrate the mind more efficiently than the necessity of saying what you mean. It brings you face to face with what you are talking about, what you are actually proposing. It gets you away from the catch phrases that not merely substitute for thought but preclude it.

Look at it this way: I might be saying you're fat, but at least I'm not punching you in the face.' Are those the only options?' Not always. Just sometimes.

People will always tell stories. The publishing industry might vanish, but not stories.

After a moment, he turned sharply to me. 'Are you quite all right?' 'Yes, perfectly. Why do you ask?' 'Because I have just called you contrary and you did not bother to contradict me. I thought you might be ill.

The thought hath good leggs, and the quill a good tongue.

There is no communication in this world except between equals.

when the phone rings I too would like to hear words that might ease some of this.

The most important thing for a director is being able to communicate. When you communicate comfortably, regardless of what you're saying, it can always be processed.

Many times in life I've regretted the things I've said without thinking. But I've never regretted the things I said nearly as much as the words I left unspoken.