Quotations about:
pause
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Dean Swift’s rule is as good for women as for men — never to talk above a half minute without pausing, and giving others an opportunity to strike in.
Sydney Smith (1771-1845) English clergyman, essayist, wit
Essay (1843-07), “Parisian Morals and Manners,”
Edinburgh Review No. 157, Art. 5
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Added on 1-Oct-24 | Last updated 1-Oct-24
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Topics: break, conversation, courtesy, dialog, discussion, engagement, pause, politeness, response
More quotes by Smith, Sydney The art of the parenthesis is one of the great secrets of eloquence in society.
[L’art de la parenthèse est un des grands secrets de l’éloquence dans la Société.]
Nicolas Chamfort (1741-1794) French writer, epigrammist (b. Nicolas-Sébastien Roch)
Products of Perfected Civilization [Produits de la Civilisation Perfectionée], Part 1 “Maxims and Thoughts
[Maximes et Pensées],” ch. 3, ¶ 243 (1795) [tr. Sinicalchi]
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The art of the parenthesis is one of the great secrets of social eloquence.
[tr. Mathers (1926)]
The art of parenthesis is one of the great secrets of eloquence in society.
[tr. Merwin (1969)]
Added on 16-Oct-23 | Last updated 16-Oct-23
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Topics: commentary, communication, conversation, eloquence, parenthesis, pause, society
More quotes by Chamfort, Nicolas Friendship, like love, is destroyed by long absence, though it may be increased by short intermissions.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
The Idler, #23 (23 Sep 1758)
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Added on 8-Aug-17 | Last updated 25-Jun-22
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Topics: absence, apart, break, friendship, intermission, love, meme, pause, separation
More quotes by Johnson, Samuel There was a pause — just long enough for an angel to pass, flying slowly.
Ronald Firbank (1886-1926) British novelist and playwright
Vainglory (1915)
Added on 11-Mar-16 | Last updated 11-Mar-16
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Topics: brevity, brief, hesitation, moment, pause
More quotes by Firbank, Ronald Think before thou speakest.
Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) Spanish novelist
Don Quixote, Part 1, Book 4, ch. 3 (1605) [tr. Motteux and Ozell (1743)]
Added on 21-Apr-14 | Last updated 9-Jun-15
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Topics: consider, hesitate, pause, speak, speaking, speech
More quotes by Cervantes, Miguel de The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.
Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer [pseud. of Samuel Clemens]
Mark Twain’s Speeches, Introduction [ed W.D. Howells (1923 ed.)]
Added on 16-Sep-11 | Last updated 26-Jan-19
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Topics: cadence, language, pause, rhythm, words, writing
More quotes by Twain, Mark It’s all right to hesitate if you then go ahead!
Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) German poet, playwright, director, dramaturgist
The Good Person of Szechwan [Der gute Mensch von Sezuan], Prologue (1941) [tr. Bentley (1947)]
Added on 29-Oct-10 | Last updated 26-Mar-21
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Topics: continuation, hesitation, keep going, pause
More quotes by Brecht, Bertholt You must have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by. Yes, but some of them are golden only because we let them slip.
J. M. Barrie (1860-1937) Scottish novelist and dramatist [James Matthew Barrie]
“Courage,” Rectoral Address, University of St. Andrews, Scotland (1922-05-03)
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Added on 31-Jan-08 | Last updated 17-Apr-24
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Topics: action, cheer, diligence, duty, fun, moderation, pause, recreation, relaxation
More quotes by Barrie, James Act nothing in furious Passion; it’s putting to Sea in a Storm.
Thomas Fuller (1654-1734) English physician, preacher, aphorist, writer
Introductio ad Prudentiam, Vol. 1, # 365 (1725)
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Added on 1-Feb-04 | Last updated 17-Apr-24
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Topics: action, consideration, contemplation, danger, emotion, passion, pause, reaction
More quotes by Fuller, Thomas (1654) If thou thinkest twice before thou speakest once, thou wilt speak twice the better for it.
William Penn (1644-1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
Fruits of Solitude, #132 (1682)
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Added on 1-Feb-04 | Last updated 21-Apr-14
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Topics: consider, pause, speaking, speech, think
More quotes by Penn, William