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I Don't Like To See Things On Purpose. I Like Them To Soak In. A Friend . . . Asked Me To Go To The Top Of The Empire State Building Once, And I Told Him That He Shouldn't Treat New York As A Sight-it's Feeling, An Emotional Experience. And The Same With Every Place Else.
-Robert Frost
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I Don't Like To

Robert Frost
I Don't Like To See Things On Purpose. I Like Them To Soak In. A Friend . . . Asked Me To Go To The Top Of The Empire State Building Once, And I Told Him That He Shouldn't Treat New York As A Sight-it's Feeling, An Emotional Experience. And The Same With Every Place Else.
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Topic
Friendship
New York
Emotional
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Hints
I Dwell With A Strangely Aching Heart In That Vanished Abode There Far Apart
Heart
Abode
Heart Ache
The Sun Was Warm But The Wind Was Chill. You Know How It Is With An April Day. When The Sun Is Out And The Wind Is Still, You're One Month On In The Middle Of May. But If You So Much As Dare To Speak, A Cloud Come Over The Sunlit Arch, And Wind Comes Off A Frozen Peak, And You're Two Months Back In The Middle Of March.
Spring
Clouds
Wind
More Men Die Of Worry Than Of Work, Because More Men Worry Than Work.
Death
Men
Worry
The Trees That Have It In Their Pent-up Buds To Darken Nature And Be Summer Woods.
Summer
Tree
Bud
I Write To Find Out What I Didn't Know I Knew.
Writing
Knows
Such Heaps Of Broken Glass To Sweep Away / You'd Think The Inner Dome Of Heaven Had Fallen.
Thinking
Glasses
Broken
I'd Like To Get Away From Earth Awhile / And Then Come Back To It And Begin Over.
Earth
Get Away
For Hard It Is To Keep From Being King When It's In You And In The Situation.
Nature
Kings
Situation
Two Such As You With Such A Master Speed Cannot Be Parted Nor Be Swept Away
Wedding
Two
Speed
I Am A Writer Of Books In Retrospect. I Talk In Order To Understand; I Teach In Order To Learn.
Book
Reflection
Order
Nothing Flatters Me More Than To Have It Assumed That I Could Write Prose, Unless It Be To Have It Assumed That I Once Pitched A Baseball With Distinction.
Baseball
Writing
Distinction
I See For Nature No Defeat In One Tree's Overthrow Or For Myself In My Retreat For Yet Another Blow.
Nature
Blow
Tree
He Burned His House Down For The Fire Insurance And Spent The Proceeds On A Telescope.
Fire
House
Vision
The First Thing I Do In The Morning Is To Make My Bed And While I Am Making Up My Bed I Am Making Up My Mind As To What Kind Of A Day I Am Going To Have.
Morning
Choices
Mind
I Am Sure I Have Heard This Several Times From Places I Can't Recall, But It's Not Already In The Gaia Quotes Database, So I Add This Profound Insight From The Fields Of Psychological Healing And Spiritual Evolution. It Sure Has Helped Me.
Spiritual
Healing
Profound
Only God And I Knew What I Meant When I Wrote It, Now Only God Knows
God Knows
Only God Knows
Knows
A Successful Lawsuit Is The One Worn By A Policeman.
Successful
Law
Feet
Modern Poets Talk Against Business, Poor Things, But All Of Us Write For Money. Beginners Are Subjected To Trial By Market.
Writing
Beginners
Trials
You've Got To Be Brave And You've Got To Be Bold. Brave Enough To Take Your Chance On Your Own Discrimination, What's Right And What's Wrong, What's Good And What's Bad.
Brave
Ethics
Chance
The Truly Educated Can Listen To Any View Without Losing Their Temper Or Self-confidence.
Self Confidence
Views
Losing
Nothing Can Make Injustice Just But Mercy.
Injustice
Mercy
Nor Is There Wanting In The Press Some Spirit To Stand Simply Forth, Heroic In It Nakedness, Against The Uttermost Of Earth. The Tale Of Earth's Unhonored Things Sounds Nobler There Than 'neath The Sun; And The Mind Whirls And The Heart Sings, And A Shout Greets The Daring One.
Life
Heart
Mind
The Ear Is The Only True Writer And The Only True Reader. I Know People Who Read Without Hearing The Sentence Sounds And They Were The Fastest Readers. Eye Readers We Call Them. They Get The Meaning By Glances. But They Are Bad Readers Because They Miss The Best Part Of What A Good Writer Puts Into His Work.
Eye
People
Missing
In Heaven We Are All Ghostwriters, If We Write At All.
Writing
Heaven
Ifs
My Goal In Life Is To Unite My Avocation With My Vocation, As My Two Eyes Make One In Sight.
Life
Eye
Sight
Poets Are Like Baseball Pitchers. Both Have Their Moments. The Intervals Are The Tough Things.
Baseball
Poetry
Pitching
One Age Is Like Another For The Soul.
History
Soul
Age
If We Couldn't Laugh We Would All Go Insane.
Love
Inspirational
Life
Freedom Is When You Are Easy In The Harness.
Easy
Harness
I Am Not A Nature Poet. There Is Almost Always A Person In My Poems.
Poet
Persons
I'd Like To Get Away From Earth Awhile And Then Come Back To It And Begin Over. May No Fate Wilfully Misunderstand Me And Half Grant What I Wish And Snatch Me Away Not To Return. Earth's The Right Place For Love: I Don't Know Where It's Likely To Go Better.
Love
Fate
Wish
I Only Hope That When I Am Free, As They Are Free To Go In Quest, Of The Knowledge Beyond The Bounds Of Life, It May Not Seem Better To Me To Rest.
Quests
May
Seems
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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