When infuriated by an outrageous column, do not be suckered into responding with an abusive e-mail. Pundits so targeted thumb through these red-faced electronic missives with delight, saying 'Hah! Got to 'em.' William Safire More Quotes by William Safire More Quotes From William Safire Previously known for its six syllables of sweetness and light, reconciliation has become the political fighting word of the year. William Safire fighting light years One challenge to the arts in America is the need to make the arts, especially the classic masterpieces, accessible and relevant to today's audience. William Safire challenges america art Different regions may require different strategies, as President Bush has noted, but not different basic principles. It's either collective security or selective security. William Safire different principles president In dealing with Syria's dictator...only force counts. No cease-fire was attainable in Lebanon until the 16-inch guns of the battleship New Jersey started shelling Syria's proxies; suddenly, sweet reason prevailed in Damascus. William Safire sweet war peace A book should have an intellectual shape and a heft that comes with dealing with a primary subject. William Safire intellectual should-have book Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation, and is thus a source of civilized delight. William Safire gratitude knowing appreciation I welcome new words, or old words used in new ways, provided the result is more precision, added color or greater expressiveness. William Safire welcome color way Cast aside any column about two subjects. It means the pundit chickened out on the hard decision about what to write about that day. William Safire writing two mean The most successful column is one that causes the reader to throw down the paper in a peak of fit. William Safire causes paper successful The tension between the governed and the governing is what makes the world go 'round. It's not love, it's that tension, because that tension exists in love affairs. The whole idea of control is at the heart of human relationships. Control and resistance to control. William Safire heart world ideas The trick is to start early in our careers the stress-relieving avocation that we will need later as a mind-exercising final vocation. We can quit a job, but we quit fresh involvement at our mental peril. William Safire stress exercise jobs This is what it's all about. From what I could see, you could get a bunch of people together, whip up the press and have some impact. William Safire impact together people When duty calls, that is when character counts. William Safire duty character Never feel guilty about reading, it's what you do to do your job. William Safire guilty reading jobs When I need to know the meaning of a word, I look it up in a dictionary. William Safire dictionary looks needs Carter is the best President the Soviet Union ever had. William Safire carter unions president Some handsome and ambitious men believe they are above all morality, and a woman's virtue becomes a mere challenge to them. William Safire challenges men believe I could get a better education interviewing John Steinbeck than talking to an English professor about novels. William Safire professors novel talking Better to be a jerk that knees than a knee that jerks. William Safire knees jerk Why use a modifier to set straight a not-quite-right noun when the right noun is available? William Safire nouns use writing
