Tom Stoppard Quotes

A life spent writing has taught me to be wary of words. Those that seem clearest are often the most treacherous.

Never be so brief as to become obscure.

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

I'm tired of wasting letters when punctuation will do, period.

Writing is learning to say nothing, more cleverly each day.

Words are the basic tools, if you are a writer. But why? Why do you choose one set of tools rather than another?

In labouring to be concise, I become obscure.

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

I was born into a profession in which my love of words, chosen with care for their meaning and nuance, was extremely important, not only to me, but also to the people with whom I worked with.

I labor to be brief, and manage to be obscure.

Words are slippery and thoughts are vicious.

The human word is neither immortal nor invulnerable; but it is the power that orders our chaos, and the light by which we live.

It's funny because I've made a living off of words, but words get in the way of what you really want to say.

Words can be an act of reductionism.

I love words, and I love that there's so many words available to make a point and to create a picture.

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.

Writing and rewriting are a constant search for what it is one is saying.

Eloquence is the power to translate a truth into language perfectly intelligible to the person to whom you speak.

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.

Style is a very simple matter; it is all rhythm. Once you get that, you can't use the wrong words.

Oh child, your language is so utterly simple and limited that it has the affect of extreme complication. -Aunt Beast

I write in words. I don't write in sounds or in shapes or in flavors.

I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.

Words, like glasses, obscure everything they do not make clear. Before using a fine word, make a place for it.

Between the demand to be clear,and the temptation to be obscure, impossible to decide which deserves more respect.