The obscurity of a writer is generally in proportion to his incapacity. Quintilian More Quotes by Quintilian More Quotes From Quintilian Whilst we deliberate how to begin a thing, it grows too late to begin it. Quintilian grows procrastination too-late We should not speak so that it is possible for the audience to understand us, but so that it is impossible for them to misunderstand us. Quintilian simplicity impossible writing Study depends on the goodwill of the student, a quality that cannot be secured by compulsion. Quintilian quality students teaching Nothing is more dangerous to men than a sudden change of fortune. Quintilian money change men Write quickly and you will never write well; write well, and you will soon write quickly. Quintilian wells writing We must form our minds by reading deep rather than wide. Quintilian reading mind book Those who wish to appear wise among fools, among the wise seem foolish. Quintilian fool wise wish In almost everything, experience is more valuable than precept. Quintilian valuable experience That which offends the ear will not easily gain admission to the mind. Quintilian ears mind inspirational A mediocre speech supported by all the power of delivery will be more impressive than the best speech unaccompanied by such power. Quintilian impressive training speech An evil-speaker differs from an evil-doer only in the want of opportunity. Quintilian evil want opportunity One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand. Quintilian language impossible writing For the mind is all the easier to teach before it is set. Quintilian teach easier mind There is no one who would not rather appear to know than to be taught. Quintilian taught pride knows While we are making up our minds as to when we shall begin. the opportunity is lost. Quintilian mind lost opportunity God, that all-powerful Creator of nature and architect of the world, has impressed man with no character so proper to distinguish him from other animals, as by the faculty of speech. Quintilian powerful animal character The learned understand the reason of art; the unlearned feel the pleasure. Quintilian pleasure reason art It is the heart which inspires eloquence. Quintilian eloquence heart inspire For it would have been better that man should have been born dumb, nay, void of all reason, rather than that he should employ the gifts of Providence to the destruction of his neighbor. Quintilian dumb should-have men Satiety is a neighbor to continued pleasures. Quintilian satiety neighbor pleasure
