William Safire Quotes

•  The noun phrase straw man, now used as a compound adjective as in ‘straw-man device, technique or issue,’ was popularized in American culture by ‘The Wizard of Oz.’

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Device, Technique

•  The wonderful thing about being a New York Times columnist is that it’s like a Supreme Court appointment – they’re stuck with you for a long time.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Stuck, Appointment

• To be accused of ‘channeling’ is to be dismissed as a ventriloquist’s live dummy, derogated at not having a mind of one’s own.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Accused, Dismissed

• A reader ought to be able to hold it and become familiar with its organized contents and make it a mind’s manageable companion.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Companion, Familiar

• At a certain point, what people mean when they use a word becomes its meaning.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Meaning, Mean

• Cast aside any column about two subjects. It means the pundit chickened out on the hard decision about what to write about that day.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Aside, Subjects

• Do not be taken in by ‘insiderisms.’ Fledgling columnists, eager to impress readers with their grasp of journalistic jargon, are drawn to such arcane spellings as ‘lede.’ Where they lede, do not follow.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Jargon, Eager

• I welcome new words, or old words used in new ways, provided the result is more precision, added color or greater expressiveness.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Precision, Provided

• I’m a right-wing pundit and have been for many years.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Right Wing

• A book should have an intellectual shape and a heft that comes with dealing with a primary subject.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Primary, Subject

• If you re-read your work, you can find on re-reading a great deal of repetition can be avoided by re-reading and editing.

  William Safire

  Topics in Work

  Tags in Reading

• Is sloppiness in speech caused by ignorance or apathy? I don’t know and I don’t care.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Ignorance

• I think we all have a need to know what we do not need to know.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Know

• Have a definite opinion.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Opinion

• Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation, and is thus a source of civilized delight.

  William Safire

  Topics in Work

• Last, but not least, avoid cliches like the plague.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Avoid

• The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right.

  William Safire

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Right

William Safire (37)

Birth:	17th December, 1929
Death:	27th September, 2009
Nationality:	American
Profession:	Author, Columnist, Journalist

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