“I worked for half a cent a word. I'm not a fast writer to begin with, so for the first few years I had do other things.” YearsFirstsHalfCents Author:Jack Vance
“I categorically declare first my absolute innocence, second my lack of criminal intent, and third my effusive apologies.” FirstsThirdsAbsolutesCriminalsInnocenceApology Book:The Dying Earth Source: The Dying Earth
“Conversation! Supple sentences, with first and second meanings and overtones beyond, outrageous challenges with cleverly planned slip-points, rebuttals of elegant brevity; deceptions and guiles, patient explanations of the obvious, fleeting allusions to the unthinkable. As a preliminary, the conversationalist must gauge the mood, the intelligence and the verbal facility of the company. To this end, a few words of pedantic exposition often prove invaluable.” FirstsEndsChallengesCompanyConversationProvePatientObviousSentencesMoodDeceptionExplanationSlipsElegantFleetingFacilityOutrageousUnthinkableBrevityFew WordsInvaluableGaugesAllusionSuppleGuilePedanticRebuttal Author:Jack Vance
