The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry. (Ernest Hemingway – a Farewell to Arms – 1929)
A member of the Cabinet congratulated Wilson on introducing the vogue of short speeches and asked him about the time it took him to prepare his speeches. He said:
“It depends. If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days; if an hour, I am ready now.” (Woodrow Wilson)
My void is a grand devourer, giant shredder, great annihilator. (Henri Michaux – Je suis né troué – 1929)
So was I once myself a swinger of birches
And so I dream of going back to be. (Robert Frost – Birches – 1913)
Moo! (Brian Postow – c. 2001)
Mu. (me – c. 2003)