Ideas

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from April 22, 2002

Quotations to stir the heart and mind about writing.

By words the mind is winged.

Aristophanes, quoted in Jan Karon, Patches of Godlight

When you re-read a classic you do not see more in the book than you did before; you see more in you than there was before.

Clifton Fadiman, Any Number Can Play

I think of the reader as a cat, endlessly fastidious, capable by turns of mordant indifference and riveted attention, luxurious, recumbent, ever poised. Whereas the writer is absolutely a dog, panting and moping, too eager for an affectionate scratch behind the ears, lunging frantically after any old stick thrown in the distance.

Patricia Hampl, I Could Tell You Stories

It is one of the most mysterious penalties of men that they should be forced to confide the most precious of their possessions to things so unstable and ever changing, alas, as words.

Georges Bernanos, The Diary of a Country Priest

If any man wishes to write in a clear style, let him be first clear in his thoughts; and if any would write in a noble style, let him first possess a noble soul.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, quoted in the electronic newsletter, A.Word.A.Day

I have always known that writing is indecent exposure. By publishing a book one asks to be attacked.

Peter F. Drucker, Adventures of a Bystander

Of all those arts in which the wise excel, Nature’s chief masterpiece is writing well.

John Sheffield, Essay on Poetry

We read to know we are not alone.

Student to C. S. Lewis in Shadowlands

Make careful choice of the books which you read. Let the Holy Scriptures ever have the pre-eminence, and next to them, the solid, lively, heavenly treatises which best expound and apply the Scriptures . …But take heed of the poison of false teachers.

Richard Baxter, Christian Directory

I suggest that the only books that influence us are those for which we are ready, and which have gone a little further down our particular path than we have gone ourselves.

E. M. Forster, “A Book that Influenced Me,” in Two Cheers for Democracy

I, who live by words, am wordless when I try my words in prayer. All language turns To silence …

Madeleine L’Engle, from “Word” in The Weather of the Heart

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

Other articles in our 2002 Annual Books Issue include:

CT Book Awards 2002Here are the books our judges—200 pastors, scholars, and church leaders—considered the worthiest this year.

No Longer Left BehindAn insider’s look at how Christian books are agented, acquired, packaged, branded, and sold in today’s marketplace.

Past Reflections columns include:

Crucifixion (March 28, 2002)

God’s Mission (February 13, 2002)

On Enemies (January 8, 2002)

Life After Christmas (December 26, 2001)

Love & Marriage (November 13, 2001)

The Word of God (October 22, 2001)

Leadership (October 11, 2001)

Suffering (September 13, 2001)

Change (August 14, 2001)

Living Tradition (July 18, 2001)

Sacred Spaces (June 11, 2001)

Friendship (May 17, 2001)

Also in this issue

No Longer Left Behind: How Christian books are acquired packaged, branded, and sold.

Cover Story

No Longer Left Behind

Not Everybody Loves Ray

Belgium: Deported as 'Illegal'

Letters

Winning the Race

Reality Check

Not in the Job Description

Frozen Chosen

The Model Pastor

Quotation Marks

Free Children

Ethiopia: Returning a Tabot

Editorial

Nixon's Ghost

A Preventable Tragedy

Flogged and Deported

Hell's Final Enigma

Amplified Versions

Leading with Conclusions

"The Back Page: More Doctrine, Not Less"

The Heavyweights of Religion Research

News

Bono Tells Christians: Don't Neglect Africa

Bono's Burning Question

2002 Christianity Today Book Awards

The Dour Analyst and the Joyous Christian

Two Cultural Giants

Theology for the Rest of Us

"The Good News According to Twain, Steinbeck, and Dickens"

News

Go Figure

"In the World, but…"

'Political Witch Hunt'

Faith on TV: More Religious TV for Canada

Mea Culpa: Graham Laments '72 Comments on Jews

Ponzi Payback: Treachery of the Highest Order

’Let’s not Fight’

Southern Baptists: To Sign or Not to Sign?

Salvation Army Eyes Registration Victory

View issue

Our Latest

News

Space Force Hymn Lifts Prayer to the Heavens

Southern Baptist chaplain says God prompted him to write song for the newest branch of the US military. 

Beijing, Let My Daughter Come Home

Power Without Integrity Destroys Us

Evangelicals helped elect Trump. Can evangelicals also hold him accountable?

The Bulletin

Sultan of Swing

The Bulletin addresses the election of Donald Trump.

What Another Trump Presidency Means To Evangelicals Around the World

Christian leaders from Nepal to Turkey greet the US election results with joy, grief, and indifference.

Our Faith’s Future Depends on Discipleship

The Lausanne Movement’s State of the Great Commission report details where and how Christianity is growing. 

News

Trump’s Promised Mass Deportations Put Immigrant Churches on Edge

Some of the president-elect’s proposals seem unlikely, but he has threatened to remove millions of both undocumented and legal immigrants.

God Is Faithful in Triumph and Despair

I voted for Kamala Harris and mourn her loss. But I want to keep politics in its proper place, subordinate to Jesus.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube