The beginner should approach style warily, realizing that it is himself he is approaching, no other; and he should begin by turning resolutely away from all devices that are popularly believed to indicate style - all mannerisms, tricks, adornments. The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity.

E. B. White

Categorized in : Style Simplicity Beginners

Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.

E. B. White

creativity powerful beauty

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.

E. B. White

good-morning time life

Trust me, Wilbur. People are very gullible. They'll believe anything they see in print.

E. B. White

trust-me believe people

A library is a good place to go when you feel unhappy, for there, in a book, you may find encouragement and comfort. A library is a good place to go when you feel bewildered or undecided, for there, in a book, you may have your question answered. Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people - people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.

E. B. White

encouragement inspiring book

Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts.

E. B. White

prejudice time facts

Life is like writing with a pen. You can cross out your past but you can't erase it.

E. B. White

life-is-like writing past

Being the owner of Dachshunds, to me a book on dog discipline becomes a volume of inspired humor. Every sentence is a riot. Some day, if I ever get a chance, I shall write a book, or warning, on the character and temperament of the Dachshund and why he can't be trained and shouldn't be. I would rather train a striped zebra to balance an Indian club than induce a Dachshund to heed my slightest command. When I address Fred I never have to raise either my voice or my hopes. He even disobeys me when I instruct him in something he wants to do.

E. B. White

zebras dog book

The world is full of people who have never, since childhood, met an open doorway with an open mind.

E. B. White

childhood tolerance people

Nauseous. Nauseated. The first means "sickening to contemplate"; the second means "sick at the stomach." Do not, therefore, say "I feel nauseous," unless you are sure you have that effect on others.

E. B. White

sick mean firsts

Reading is the work of the alert mind, is demanding, and under ideal conditions produces finally a sort of ecstasy.

E. B. White

produce reading mind

You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. A spider's life can't help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that.

E. B. White

trying life heaven

A schoolchild should be taught grammar—for the same reason that a medical student should study anatomy.

E. B. White

medical taught students

Use the smallest word that does the job.

E. B. White

doe writing jobs

Make the work interesting and the discipline will take care of itself.

E. B. White

discipline learning work

I have one share in corporate Earth, and I am nervous about the management.

E. B. White

government management earth

Anyone who writes down to children is simply wasting his time. You have to write up, not down. Children are demanding. They are the most attentive, curious, eager, observant, sensitive, quick, and generally congenial readers on earth.... Children are game for anything. I throw them hard words and they backhand them across the net.

E. B. White

games writing children

Writing is both mask and unveiling.

E. B. White

writing inspirational life

Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.

E. B. White

another-day inspiring wind

A despot doesn't fear eloquent writers preaching freedom- he fears a drunken poet who may crack a joke that will take hold.

E. B. White

cracks poet may

Books are good company, in sad times and happy times, for books are people-- people who have managed to stay alive by hiding between the covers of a book.

E. B. White

happy-times book people