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Washington Irving Quotes

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Washington Irving was an American author known for his significant contributions to American literature. His works, including 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' and 'Rip Van Winkle', have had a profound impact on American literature.

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Famous Washington Irving Quotes

“He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his thoughts. He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most explicit and direct manner. He tries to compress as much thought as possible into a few words. On the contrary, the man who talks everlastingly and promiscuously, who seems to have an exhaustless magazine of sound, crowds so many words into his thoughts that he always obscures, and very frequently conceals them.”

Thinking Men Trying Littles Ideas Seems Language Sound Style He Man Direct Crowds Contrary Magazines Proportion Explicit Few Words

Author:Washington Irving

“Redundancy of language is never found with deep reflection. Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking. He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his thoughts.”

Thinking May Littles Found Language Style Reflection Observation Proportion Redundancy

Author:Washington Irving

“Washington, in fact, had very little private life, but was eminently a public character.”

Littles Character Facts Private Life

Book:Life of George Washington

Source: Life of George Washington

“He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his thoughts. He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most explicit and direct manner.”

Thinking Littles Ideas Language Silence Direct Proportion Explicit

Author:Washington Irving

“Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above them.”

Source: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories

“The literary world is made up of little confederacies, each looking upon its own members as the lights of the universe; and considering all others as mere transient meteors, doomed to soon fall and be forgotten, while its own luminaries are to shine steadily into immortality.”

World Writing Littles Made Light Fall Universe Members Shining Mere Forgotten Immortality Considering Doomed Transient Meteors

Book:Bracebridge Hall ; Tales of a Traveller ; The Alhambra

Source: Bracebridge Hall ; Tales of a Traveller ; The Alhambra

“Into the space of one little hour sins enough may be conjured up by evil tongues to blast the fame of a whole life of virtue.”

May Littles Enough Whole Evil Hours Sin Space Virtue Fame Tongue Whole Life Blast Slander

Book:The Complete Works of Washington Irving: Short Stories, Plays, Historical Works, Poetry and Autobiographical Writings (Illustrated): The Entire Opus of the Prolific American Writer, Biographer and Historian, Including The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Bracebridge Hall and many more

Source: The Complete Works of Washington Irving: Short Stories, Plays, Historical Works, Poetry and Autobiographical Writings (Illustrated): The Entire Opus of the Prolific American Writer, Biographer and Historian, Including The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Bracebridge Hall and many more