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One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand.

Quintilian

Ambition is a vice, but it may be the father of virtue.
QUINTILIAN

Ambition Father Vice Virtue
While we are examining into everything we sometimes find truth where we least expected it.
QUINTILIAN

Examination Expectation Time
That which offends the ear will not easily gain admission to the mind.
QUINTILIAN

Admission Ear Easy Mindset Offend
If you direct your whole thought to work itself, none of the things which invade eyes or ears will reach the mind.
QUINTILIAN

Direct Eyes Mindset Reach Work
The obscurity of a writer is generally in proportion to his incapacity.
QUINTILIAN

Capacity Writing
The pretended admission of a fault on our part creates an excellent impression.
QUINTILIAN

Admission Creation Excellence Impression Pretend
We should not speak so that it is possible for the audience to understand us, but so that it is impossible for them to misunderstand us.
QUINTILIAN

Impossible Misunderstand Possible Talk Understand
(Slaughter) means blood and iron.
QUINTILIAN

Blood Death Iron
The prosperous can not easily form a right idea of misery.
QUINTILIAN

Easy Ideas Misery Prosperity Right
Too exact, and studious of similitude rather than of beauty.
QUINTILIAN

Beautiful Exact Similar
It is the heart which inspires eloquence.
QUINTILIAN

Heart Inspirational One Liner
By writing quickly we are not brought to write well, but by writing well we are brought to write quickly.
QUINTILIAN

Difference Literature Poet Writing
It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate.
QUINTILIAN

Children Himself Imitation Nurse
The gifts of nature are infinite in their variety, and mind differs from mind almost as much as body from body.
QUINTILIAN

Body Infinite Mindset Nature
Consequently the student who is devoid of talent will derive no more profit from this work than barren soil from a treatise on agriculture.
QUINTILIAN

Agriculture Profit Student Talent Work
A liar ought to have a good memory.
QUINTILIAN

Goodness Lying Memories

One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand.

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One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand.

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Popular Authors

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