George F. Will Quotes

The strangest thing about the low quality of Internet argument is that effective argument isn't really so difficult. Sure, not everyone can be Clarence Darrow, but anyone who wants to be at least competent at argument can do it.

Of writing well the source and fountainhead is wise thinking.

Clarity in language depends on clarity in thought.

Sound judgment is the ground of writing well.

I am always writing. It is not always good, but if I am writing, I am usually happy.

Crystal-clear thinking is one of the things we look for - not a fancy slide pitch, but crystal-clear thinking.

Lower your voice and strengthen your argument.

A poor idea well written is more likely to be accepted than a good idea poorly written.

I want my arguments to be good arguments on the basis of what I actually have to say.

To make yourself understood you have to think plain and write plain.

People who think well, write well

If you want to "get in touch with your feelings," fine, talk to yourself. We all do. But if you want to communicate with another thinking human being, get in touch with your thoughts. Put them in order, give them a purpose, use them to persuade, to instruct, to discover, to seduce. The secret way to do this is to write it down, and then cut out the confusing parts.

Good writing ... involves the agony of turning profoundly difficult thoughts into lucid form, then forcing them into the tight-fitting uniform of language, making them visible and clear.

If you can’t state your position in eight words, you don’t have a position.

Writing well is at one and the same time good thinking, good feeling, and good expression; it is having wit, soul, and taste, all together.

To write well is to think well, to feel well, and to render well; it is to possess at once intellect, soul, and taste.

Clear thought makes clear speech.

I see but one rule: to be clear.

I've never worked a day in my life. The joy of writing has propelled me from day to day and year to year. I want you to envy me, my joy. Get out of here tonight and say: 'Am I being joyful?' And if you've got a writer's block, you can cure it this evening by stopping whatever you're writing and doing something else. You picked the wrong subject.

Keep it kickwriting at all costs too, that is, write only what kicks you and keeps you overtime awake from sheer mad joy.

Short, sweet, and to the point. Clear writing, and therefore clear commands, comes from clear thinking. Think simple.

Nothing stinks like a pile of unpublished writing, which remark I guess shows I still don't have a pure motive (O it's-such-fun-I-just-can't-stop-who-cares-if-it's-published-or-read) about writing.

Our words must seem to be inevitable.

To use many words to communicate few thoughts is everywhere the unmistakable sign of mediocrity. To gather much thought into few words stamps the man of genius.