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E. B. White

E. B. White Quotes

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Famous E. B. White Quotes

“Place yourself in the background; write in a way that comes naturally; work from a suitable design; write with nouns and verbs; do not overwrite; do not overstate; avoid the use of qualifiers; do not affect a breezy style; use orthodox spelling; do not explain too much; avoid fancy words; do not take shortcuts as the cost of clarity; prefer the standard to the offbeat; make sure the reader knows who is speaking; do not use dialect; revise and rewrite.”

KnowsWayWritingUseToo MuchStyleDesignReaderCostStandardsBackgroundsClarityFancyOrthodoxSuitableVerbsShortcutsSpellingNounsDialectBreezyOffbeat
Author:E. B. White
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“Who can confidently say what ignites a certain combination of words, causing them to explode in the mind? Who knows why certain notes in music are capable of stirring the listener deeply, though the same notes slightly rearranged are impotent? These are high mysteries, and this chapter is a mystery story, thinly disguised.”

KnowsMindStoriesCertainMysteryCapableNotesCombinationChaptersListenersStirringIgnite
Book:the elements of style
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“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.”

KnowsLifeTryingLittlesHas BeensHelpingDiesHeavenBornBirthEatingMy FriendsMessLiftsSpidersTriflesCharlotte's WebI Liked You
Author:E. B. White
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“... with men it's rush, rush, rush, every minute. I'm glad I'm a sedentary spider." "What does sedentary mean?" asked Wilbur. "Means I sit still a good part of the time and don't go wandering all over creation. I know a good thing when I see it, and my web is a good thing. I stay put and wait for what comes. Gives me a chance to think.”

ThinkingKnowsMenGivingMeanDoeStillsWaitingChanceMinutesCreationGive MeGood ThingsGladWanderSpidersSedentaryGive Me A Chance
Author:E. B. White
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“It's hard to know when to respond to the seductiveness of the world and when to respond to its challenge. If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between the desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.”

IfsKnowsWorldHardProblemWould BeDesireEasyEnjoyChallengesMorningPlansAriseTornNo ProblemSeductivePleasures Of Life
Author:E. B. White
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