Word Choice Quotes

• The word 'choice' is a fraud while people choose only what they have been taught to choose.

  Idries Shah

  People, Choices, Taught

  Idries Shah (1983). “Reflections”, p.22, Octagon Press Ltd

  55 Copy quote

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• Our word choices give a sentence its luster, and they deserve intense attention.

  Constance Hale

  Giving, Choices, Our Words

  5 Copy quote

• The choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.

  Eleanor Roosevelt

  Being Yourself, Responsibility, Personal Accountability

  Eleanor Roosevelt (1960). “You Learn by Living”, p.12, Westminster John Knox Press

  29 Copy quote

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• One of the most powerful devices is to distort time, to go from human time to atomic time, geologic time. Sometimes you can actually accomplish that, with one unexpected word choice.

  Robert Morgan

  Powerful, Choices, Unexpected

  8 Copy quote

• You want the greatest trick for writing a novel? Here it is: imagine urgently whispering your story into one person's ear - and only one. This one visualization will clarify every word choice you make.

  Julianna Baggott

  Writing, Choices, Stories

  Interview with Roxane Gay, therumpus.net. May 11, 2012.

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• The craft of writing is all the stuff that you can learn through school; go to workshops and read books. Learn characterization, plot and dialogue and pacing and word choice and point of view. Then there's also the art of it which is sort of the unknown, the inspiration, the stuff that is noncerebral.

  Garth Stein

  Art, Book, Inspiration

  4 Copy quote

• In an idealized world, we would all be able to do what our English teachers told us to do, which is to write beautiful prose where enthusiasm is conveyed by word choice and grammar.

  Will Schwalbe

  Beautiful, Teacher, Writing

  4 Copy quote

• Nonfiction ties your hands a bit, and just like writing poetry in rhyme, it can force you to make more brutal decisions in terms of word choice, plot, etc.

  Emily Susan Rapp

  Writing, Hands, Ties

  Source: therumpus.net

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• I'm still learning so much with every play I write. So I wrestle with word choice, rhythm in final drafts. I think you have to be ruthless.

  Stephen Karam

  Writing, Thinking, Play

  Source: www.broadwayworld.com

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• Human beings are natural mimickers. The more youre conscious of the other sides posture, mannerisms, and word choices - and the more you subtly reflect those back - the more accurate youll be at taking their perspective.

  Daniel H. Pink

  Leadership, Perspective, Choices

  4 Copy quote

• If you find yourself imitating another writer, that doesn't have to be a bad thing, especially if you are a young or a new writer. However, you should be conscious of exactly how you are imitating him - word choice, sentence structure, motifs? - and think about why you're doing it.

  Poppy Z. Brite

  Writing, Thinking, Choices

  11 Copy quote

• "I'm not going to lose you, Kaylee. No matter what I have to do, or whom I have to fight. Even if that means quashing your vexing tendencies toward self-sacrifice."
  "Did you just say 'vexing'?" Nash asked.
  Tod scowled. "Nothing else seemed to fit. I stand by my word choice."

  Rachel Vincent

  Mean, Fighting, Sacrifice

  "Before I Wake". Book by Rachel Vincent, 2011.

  4 Copy quote

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• A girl can dream." His eyebrows rose. "Is that what you dream about? Being a monster?" "Not exactly," I said, frowning at his word choice. Monster, indeed. "Mostly I dream about being with you forever.

  Stephenie Meyer

  Girl, Dream, Eyebrows

  Stephenie Meyer (2009). “Twilight: Twilight”, p.328, Hachette UK

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• Come to think of it, that word (choice) shouldn't be applied to people's destinies. Ever. Choice should be relegated to TV and meals: You could choose NBC over CBS or steak instead of chicken. But take the concept any further than the stove or the remote control and the word just didn't apply. - V

  J.R. Ward

  Destiny, Thinking, Nbc

  4 Copy quote

• Seth laughed when he saw me. “Hey,” I said, poking him with my foot, “be nice.” “I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen you look anything less than…” He paused, playing with word choice. “Well-planned.” “Why, you silver-tongued romantic devil. That is the look I usually go for. Other women go for sexy or chic or beautiful. But me? Well-planned all the way.” “You know what I mean. Besides, unplanned isn’t a bad look for you. Not bad at all.” His voice sounded deliciously low and dangerous, and something ignited between us as we held each other’s eyes.

  Richelle Mead

  Beautiful, Sexy, Nice

  4 Copy quote

• People from the most horrendous of childhoods can have good lives, but it comes down to a very seemingly simple word. 'Choice.'

  Laura Schlessinger

  Good Life, Simple, People

  6 Copy quote