The little honesty that exists among authors is discernible in the unconscionable way they misquote from the writings of others.
To use many words to communicate few thoughts is everywhere the unmistakable sign of mediocrity. To gather much thought into few words stamps the man of genius.
The first rule for a good style is to have something to say; in fact, this in itself is almost enough.
There are, first of all, two kinds of authors: those who write for the subject's sake, and those who write for writing's sake. The first kind have had thoughts or experiences which seem to them worth communicating, while the second kind need money and consequently write for money.
He who writes carelessly confesses thereby at the very outset that he does not attach much importance to his own thoughts.
I owe what is best in my own development to the impression made by Kant's works, the sacred writings of the Hindus, and Plato.
One should use common words to say uncommon things
For an author to write as he speaks is just as reprehensible as the opposite fault, to speak as he writes; for this gives a pedantic effect to what he says, and at the same time makes him hardly intelligible.
The business of the novelist is not to relate great events, but to make small ones interesting.
No one writes anything worth writing, unless he writes entirely for the sake of his subject.
The person who writes for fools is always sure of a large audience.