Burchfield Quotes & Sayings

Lexicography is a chastening as well as an illuminating and fascinating art. — Robert Burchfield

I am sure that the two main forms of English, American English and British English, separated geographically from the beginning and severed politically since 1776, are continuing to move apart, and that existing elements of linguistic dissimilarity between them will intensify as time goes on, notwithstanding the power of the cinema, TV, Time Magazine, and other two-way gluing and fuelling devices. — Robert Burchfield

A billion lifetimes to choose, and never anything on TV... — Zig Zag Claybourne

Before starting work go thru all the former material. Many things of vital importance have been lost sight of. — Charles E. Burchfield

Get yourself to a vantage point of seclusion and view the world with your eyes alone. Think of the infinite spaces of the skies and the world beneath. — Charles E. Burchfield

It's the writers' job to make it positive. It's my job to make it real. — Lee Pace

Computer users soon learn that the miraculous powers of personal computers are based on avoidance of error. — Robert Burchfield

It seems at times I should be a composer of sounds, not only of rhythms and colors. Walking under the trees, I felt as if the color made sound. — Charles E. Burchfield

An artist finds his happiest combination in a play of complementary colors. They are direct contrasts yet do not jar; they awaken the beholder, but do not disturb him. — Charles E. Burchfield

In 1776, at the point of severance, except for an infusion of words from east coast Indian languages, the English language of North America was not in any radical way dissimilar from that of what the American settlers called the mother country. — Robert Burchfield

Doodling serves as a means of keeping the hand or fingers limber, so that they are always ready for serious work. — Charles E. Burchfield

All conditions are bearable, all dignities trumpery, and wisdom simply the gift of making the best of whatever is thrust upon us. — George Santayana

And it occurred to me that the reason she makes it work, probably, is because she's so comfortable with herself. And you know, that's not such a bad notion, in the whole life-lesson business. Being comfortable with yourself. Because if you're not okay with who you are, why should anyone else be? — Catherine Gilbert Murdock

I get so many big ideas while I'm running and such clarity while I'm lifting weights. And staying fit keeps me happy and positive. — Robin S. Sharma

At all periods of the [English] language it is difficult to assign a beginning date to most new words and meanings. They tend to slip into the language silently, and are placed in date order only when scholars subsequently get to work. — Robert Burchfield

Women have demanded and gotten better jobs and more power. But the one thing we deserve is a better relationship with ourselves. — Ann Curry

I would never come out and say I was gay, because I'm not gay. And there's part of me that kind of wishes I was gay, and I think that that comes from anybody who is constantly wishing they were in the minority, you know, and constantly wants to be kind of fighting everybody off, you know? — Pete Wentz

Why is it that any time government takes over something for a few years, its assumed that people are too incompetent to do it for themselves? — Julian Sanchez

Vulgarity finds its antidote; old crudities become softened with time. Distinctions, both those that are useful and those that are burdensome, flourish and die, reflourish and die again. — Robert Burchfield

Charles Burchfield was exceptional. As such an accomplished artist, he had limited previous association with academia and teaching. — Paul Smith

Charles Burchfield would look at what you were working on and not say anything for several minutes. Then he would very sensitively respond - "Well, have you thought about?" or "Might you consider?" I respected that so much because I thought he was so sensitive to my work, and didn't want to offend me, but in the right way to encourage me. — Paul Smith

As an artist grows older, he has to fight disillusionment and learn to establish the same relation to nature as an adult, as he had when a child — Charles E. Burchfield

The English language is rather like a monster accordion, stretchable at the whim of the editor, compressible ad lib. — Robert Burchfield

To finish is both a relief and a release from an extraordinarily pleasant prison. — Robert Burchfield

I believe it is imperative to see modern English grammar as a rich and diverse linguistic system deposited on our [England's] shores 1,500 years ago, and left with us unweakened, though substantially changed by the social and political events of the intervening period. — Robert Burchfield

The language of Doctor Johnson and Mrs Hester Lynch Thrale, and that of their adult contemporaries, was the stately language of the time, polished, stylish, unordinary, even in the intimate pages of their diaries, and the regime of instruction was severe and practical. — Robert Burchfield

American English is the greatest influence of English everywhere. — Robert Burchfield