Devoted to technical writing and technical writers

“He who never quotes is never quoted.” (Charles Spurgeon)

That quotation is probably an appropriate one for starting off this train of thought. First of all, quotations are usually there for the using. All one need to know is which one to use and when. Imagine a speech or even an essay elegantly written and delivered, but devoid of quotations that could highlight a point or even possibly keep an audience glued to you or in stitches. 

When writing a speech, either for myself or for another person, I try to visualize the development of the topic and figure out where a good quotation should be inserted. On the other hand, it is possible for a writer to go amuck and insert too many quotations, leaving little else for originality. Thus, in my library, I have a number of books with quotations that one can use depending on the topic at hand. I have several for business, some for general use, witticisms, and even a couple which I refer to when writing on spiritual issues. They have all come in handy and I make it a point to utilize as many wise sayings as I can without rendering the work dull or too saturated with quotes.

As Michel de Montaigne once said, “I quote others only in order the better to express myself.”

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