Democracy, to maintain itself, must repeatedly conquer every cell and corner of the nation. How many of our public institutions and private businesses, our schools, hospitals, and domestic hearths are in reality little fascist states where freedom of speech is more rigorously excluded than vermin?
Jacques BarzunOne great aim of revision is to cut out. In the exuberance of composition it is natural to throw in - as one does in speaking - a number of small words that add nothing to meaning but keep up the flow and rhythm of thought. In writing, not only does this surplusage not add to meaning, it subtracts from it. Read and revise, reread and revise, keeping reading and revising until your text seems adequate to your thought.
Jacques BarzunThe history of creation is but a succession of battles between amateurs of genius-inspired heretics- and orthodox professionals.
Jacques BarzunSpeech, after all, is in some measure an expression of character, and flexibility in its use is a good way to tell your friends from the robots.
Jacques BarzunTennis belongs to the individualistic past - a hero, or at most a pair of friends or lovers, against the world.
Jacques Barzun