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As I Write, There Is A Craze For What Is Called Psychoanalysis, Or The Cure Of Diseases By Explaining To The Patient What Is The Matter With Him: An Excellent Plan If You Happen To Know What Is The Matter With Him, Especially When The Explanation Is That There Is Nothing The Matter With Him.
-George Bernard Shaw
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As I Write, There

George Bernard Shaw
As I Write, There Is A Craze For What Is Called Psychoanalysis, Or The Cure Of Diseases By Explaining To The Patient What Is The Matter With Him: An Excellent Plan If You Happen To Know What Is The Matter With Him, Especially When The Explanation Is That There Is Nothing The Matter With Him.
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Ideas
Quality
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Math
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It Is Nearly 50 Years Since I Was Assured By A Conclave Of Doctors That If I Did Not Eat Meat I Should Die Of Starvation.
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Years
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Get Married, But Never To A Man Who Is Home All Day.
Marriage
Home
Men
Although I Cannot Lay An Egg, I Am A Very Good Judge Of Omelettes
Eggs
Judging
Judgement
How Can What An Englishman Believes Be Hearsay? It Is A Contradiction In Terms.
Believe
Rebellious
Contradiction
There Are No Secrets Better Kept Than The Secrets Everybody Guesses.
Keeping Secrets
Best Kept Secrets
Criminal Mind
You Use A Glass Mirror To See Your Face; You Use Works Of Art To See Your Soul.
Beauty
Beautiful
Art
No Age Or Condition Is Without Its Heroes . The Least Incapable General In A Nation Is Its Cæsar, The Least Imbecile Statesman Its Solon , The Least Confused Thinker Its Socrates , The Least Commonplace Poet Its Shakespeare .
Confused
Hero
Age
You Are Going To Let The Fear Of Poverty Govern You Life And Your Reward Will Be That You Will Eat, But You Will Not Live.
Inspirational
Fear
Rewards
If In The Library Of Your House You Do Not Have The Works Of The Ancient Greek Writers, Then You Live In A House With No Light.
Light
House
Greek
I Have Not Wasted My Life Trifling With Literary Fools In Taverns, As Johnson Did, When He Should Have Been Shaking England With The Thunder Of His Spirit
Should Have
Taverns
Fool
Absolute Honesty Is As Absurd An Abstraction As An Absolute Temperature Or An Absolute Value.
Honesty
Temperature
Absurd
Who Are Those We Love? Only Those We Do Not Hate.
Hate
Emotional
Feelings
Progress Is Impossible Without Change; And Those Who Cannot Change Their Minds Cannot Change Anything.
Inspirational
Change
Attitude
The Politician Who Once Had To Learn To Flatter Kings Has Now To Learn How To Fascinate, Amuse, Coax, Humbug, Frighten, Or Otherwise Strike The Fancy Of The Electorate.
Kings
Fancy
Politician
As 99 Per Cent Of English Authors And 100 Per Cent Of American Ones [authors] Are Just Such Imbeciles, Managers And Publishers Make A Practice Of Asking For Every Right The Author Possesses.
Practice
Asking
Imbeciles
Choose Silence Of All Virtues, For By It You Hear Other Men's Imperfections, And Conceal Your Own.
Men
Silence
Imperfection
A Healthy Nation Is As Unconscious Of Its Nationality As A Healthy Man Of His Bones. But If You Break A Person's Nationality It Will Think Of Nothing Else But Getting It Set Again.
Men
Thinking
History
As To Spelling The Very Frequent Word Though With Six Letters Instead Of Two, It Is Impossible To Discuss It, As It Is Outside The Range Of Common Sanity. In Comparison Such A Monstrosity As Phlegm For Flem Is Merely Disgusting.
Two
Letters
Six
Both Optimists And Pessimists Contribute To Society. The Optimist Invents The Aeroplane, The Pessimist The Parachute.
Funny
Motivational
Humorous
The Real Brahms Is Nothing More Than A Sentimental Voluptuary
Music
Art
Real
Keep Away From Books And From Men Who Get Their Ideas From Books, And Your Own Books Will Always Be Fresh.
Book
Men
Ideas
I'm Only A Beer Teetotaller, Not A Champagne Teetotaller.
Beer
Alcohol
Champagne
It Is Difficult, If Not Impossible, For Most People To Think Otherwise Than In The Fashion Of Their Own Period.
Fashion
Thinking
People
I Knew If I Waited Around Long Enough Something Like This Would Happen.
Long
Enough
Epitaph
Of All Human Struggles There Is None So Treacherous And Remorseless As The Struggle Between The Artist Man And The Mother Woman.
Mother
Struggle
Artist
The Reasonable Man Adapts Himself To The World; The Unreasonable One Persists To Adapt The World To Himself. Therefore All Progress Depends On The Unreasonable Man.
Life
Motivational
Change
Understanding Quotes: Their Essence and Application

Quotes, or quotations, are powerful tools in communication, encapsulating ideas, emotions, and wisdom in concise expressions. They serve various purposes across different contexts, from academic writing to everyday conversation.

1. Defining Quotes

A quote is a repetition of someone else's statement or thoughts. It can be a direct replication of words spoken or written by another individual, often used to support arguments, provide evidence, or convey profound insights.


2. The Importance of Quotes

2.1. Enhancing Credibility

Incorporating quotes from authoritative sources can bolster the credibility of your work. By referencing experts or primary sources, you demonstrate thorough research and a solid foundation for your arguments.


2.2. Providing Evidence

Quotes serve as concrete evidence to support claims. In academic and professional writing, they validate points made, offering readers a basis to trust the information presented.


2.3. Conveying Emotions and Perspectives

Quotes can encapsulate emotions and perspectives succinctly. They allow writers to express complex feelings or viewpoints through the words of others, often more eloquently than paraphrasing.


3. Types of Quotes

3.1. Direct Quotes

Direct quotes involve copying the exact words from a source, enclosed in quotation marks. They are used when the original wording is significant or particularly well-expressed.


3.2. Indirect Quotes (Paraphrasing)

Indirect quotes restate the original message in your own words. While not enclosed in quotation marks, they still require proper attribution to the original source.


3.3. Block Quotes

Block quotes are lengthy direct quotations, formatted as a separate block of text. They are typically used for quotes exceeding a certain length, varying by citation style. For instance, in APA style, quotes longer than 40 words are formatted as block quotes.



4. Proper Usage of Quotes


4.1. Contextual Relevance

Ensure that the quote you choose is relevant to the topic and adds value to your content. Avoid inserting quotes solely for decorative purposes.


4.2. Integration into Your Writing

Seamlessly integrate quotes into your writing. Introduce them appropriately and follow up with analysis or commentary to connect them to your main points.


4.3. Attribution and Citation

Always attribute quotes to their original authors and provide proper citations according to the required style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).


5. Common Mistakes to Avoid


5.1. Overusing Quotes

Relying too heavily on quotes can overshadow your voice. Use them sparingly to support your arguments, not replace them.


5.2. Lack of Analysis

Presenting a quote without analysis or explanation can leave readers questioning its relevance. Always follow up with your interpretation or discussion.


5.3. Misquoting or Taking Out of Context

Ensure that quotes are accurate and not taken out of context, as this can mislead readers and undermine your credibility.



6. Quotes in Different Contexts


6.1. Academic Writing

In academic writing, quotes are used to support arguments, provide evidence, and engage with existing literature. Proper citation is crucial to avoid plagiarism.


6.2. Journalism

Journalists use quotes to provide firsthand accounts, add authenticity, and present multiple perspectives within a story.


6.3. Literature and Creative Writing

In literature, quotes can be used to convey character voices, themes, and stylistic elements. They enrich narratives and provide depth to storytelling.



7. Punctuation and Formatting


Understanding the correct punctuation and formatting of quotes is essential:


Quotation Marks: Always enclose direct quotes within quotation marks.


Punctuation Placement: In American English, periods and commas are placed inside quotation marks, while colons and semicolons are placed outside.


Block Quotes: For longer quotes, format them as block quotes without quotation marks, and indent the entire block.



8. Ethical Considerations


Ethical use of quotes involves accurate representation, proper attribution, and respect for intellectual property. Misuse can lead to plagiarism, which carries serious academic and professional consequences.

9. Tools for Managing Quotes


Utilize tools like citation generators and plagiarism checkers to manage quotes effectively. These tools help ensure proper formatting and originality in your writing.



Conclusion


Quotes are invaluable in enriching content, providing evidence, and conveying complex ideas succinctly. When used appropriately, they enhance the quality and credibility of your writing. Always ensure relevance, proper integration, and ethical usage to maximize their impact.


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