WIST Quotations

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 10 (1963)

Dave — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:41:25 +0000

The uses of a dictionary: at thirteen we look up lewd, licentious, lascivious; at thirty, febrile and inchoate; at fifty, endostosis.

Mignon McLaughlin (1913–1983) American journalist and author
The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 10 (1963)
(Source)

Safire, William -- Language Maven Strikes Again, “Drudgery It Ain’t” (1990)

Dave — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 17:30:56 +0000

The dictionaries should get with it; in pronunciation and ultimately in usage, when enough of us are wrong, we’re right.

William Safire (1929–2009) American author, columnist, journalist, speechwriter
Language Maven Strikes Again, “Drudgery It Ain’t” (1990)
(Source)

Often paraphrased: "The thing about language is that, when enough of us are wrong, we're right."

Johnson, Samuel -- A Dictionary of the English Language (1755)

Dave — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:52:01 +0000

LEXICOGRAPHER. n. s. A writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge, that busies himself in tracing the original, and detailing the signification of words.

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
A Dictionary of the English Language (1755)
(Source)

Johnson, Samuel -- A Dictionary of the English Language, Preface (1755)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Every other author may aspire to praise; the lexicographer can only hope to escape reproach, and even this negative recompense has been yet granted to very few.

Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
A Dictionary of the English Language, Preface (1755)
(Source)