T. S. Eliot Quotes

But why, why, why can't people just say what they mean?

Language is the most beautiful and destructive thing because it allows you to express yourself, but it totally confuses everything.

When we use terms we get confused, yet we have no other way.

I love language, and I love the failure of language.

We find few disputes, that are not founded on some ambiguity in the expression [thereof].

I find myself having these conversations where I go...You know, the guy, in that place. The guy in the place with the thing, you know. And it becomes this game of charades. And then finally, we realize that I mean the Pope.

Lord Polonius: What do you read, my lord? Hamlet: Words, words, words. Lord Polonius: What is the matter, my lord? Hamlet: Between who? Lord Polonius: I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.

Hey can mean anything. It can mean yes, it can mean maybe, it could mean no, it could mean next week. Hey, the bottom line is you have to understand me to understand hey.

People like to say, 'What do you mean exactly?' I would answer, 'I mean, but not exactly.'

If we go on explaining we shall cease to understand one another.

Sometimes I think it's possible to mistake desire for clarity and talking in a no-nonsense way for aggression.

In labouring to be concise, I become obscure.

I'm sorry I can't speak very coherently.

I am not very good at expressing myself in a simple way so it can create mis-understandings and I hate that.

It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood.

I hate not managing to speak clearly. I really hate it. I get a feeling of claustrophobia - like I'm locked in my own head - if what I've said hasn't reached someone.

Thus, we see that one of the obvious origins of human disagreement lies in the use of noises for words.

When you don't know what you're talking about, it's hard to know when you're finished.

Words are slippery and thoughts are vicious.

Any order that can be misunderstood, will be misunderstood

Sometimes, when I open my mouth, all hell breaks loose. Other times, I feel like a voice in the wilderness and I wonder, 'Does anybody get this?'

Language can be used to so many diverse ends. It can be used to clarify and, of course, it can be used to obfuscate, confuse, evade.

If I wanted you to understand it, I would have explained it better.

By using stale metaphors, similes and idioms, you save much mental effort, at the cost of leaving your meaning vague, not only for your reader but for yourself.