become hackneyed because they are useful, in the first instance; but they derive a new efficiency from the very fact that they are hackneyed. Their precise form grows to be an essential part of the idea they convey, and all that a writer effects by turning such a phrase backwards, or otherwise tampering with it, is to give us our triteness at secondhand; we are put to the trouble of translating 'tear and wear', only to arrive at our old friend 'wear and tear', hackneyed as ever.
How beautiful is noble-sentiment; like gossamer-gauze beautiful and cheap, which will stand no tear and wear.–Carlyle.
Bloated proimses, which end in nothing or little.–Emerson.
The universities also are parcel of the ecclesiastical system.–Emerson.
Fox, Burke, Pitt, Erskine, Wilberforce, Sheridan, Romilly, or whatever national man, were by this means sent to Parliament.–Emerson.
And the stronger these are, the individual is so much weaker.–Emerson.
The faster the ball falls to the sun, the force to fly off is by so much augmented.–Emerson.
The friction in nature is so enormous that we cannot spare any power. It is not question to express our thought, to elect our way, but to overcome resistances.–Emerson.
