I am like a man so busy in letting rooms in one end of his house, that he can't stop to put out the fire that is burning the other.
Abraham LincolnRead
I have great respect for the semicolon; it is a mighty handy little fellow.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The semicolon is a powerful punctuation mark that demonstrates the importance of clarity and connection in writing.
In this quote, Abraham Lincoln highlights the significance of the semicolon as a punctuation mark that serves to connect closely related ideas while maintaining a grammatical pause. It symbolizes the notion that some concepts are best expressed together, yet they retain their individuality, showcasing the complexity and richness of language.
Themes
SemicolonPunctuationLanguageWritingClarity
In practice
Example use cases
During a writing workshop, I used a quote by Lincoln to emphasize the importance of punctuation.
More from Abraham Lincoln
All quotes βSir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.
Abraham LincolnRead
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
Abraham LincolnRead
How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
Abraham LincolnRead
For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life; and while all contribute of their substance the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country's cause. The highest merit, then is due to the soldier.
Abraham LincolnRead
And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts.
Abraham LincolnRead
Similar quotes
I've never met a genius. A genius to me is someone who does well at something he hates. Anybody can do well at something he loves - it's just a question of finding the subject.
Clint EastwoodRead
Blessings donβt come from outside, but from within. Whatever blessings we receive are the result of our own efforts and positive actions.
Dalai LamaRead
Virtue rejects facility to be her companion. She requires a craggy, rough and thorny way.
Michel De MontaigneRead
To dream of the person you would like to be is to waste the person you are.
Tim MinchinRead
Cut brambles long enough, Sprout after sprout, And the lotus will bloom Of its own accord: Already waiting in the clearing, The single image of light. The day you see this, That day you will become it.
Sun Bu'ErRead
Some things come with their own punishments. Like bedrooms with built-in cupboards. They would all learn more about punishments soon. That they came in different sizes. That some were so big they were like cupboards with built-in bedrooms. You could spend your whole life in them, wandering through dark shelving.
Arundhati RoyRead