by Elton Gahr

Created on: April 29, 2009   Last Updated: May 01, 2009

There is something empowering about a quote. It allows us to show our own opinion without the need to find the perfect words, and few are better trained to find those perfect words than writers. Many of the greatest quotes of all time come from books and stories where the writer can put ideas and thoughts into the mouth of a character, allowing for a breadth of quotes that aren't possible for politicians or even philosophers who are required to defend every idea they put forth. And yet while these quotes come out of the mouth of characters, they almost always show us whe the writer truely is often better than the words they use for themselves.

"In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move." Douglas Adams, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

"How little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue." Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

"We need never be ashamed of our tears." Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken

"It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets

"Above all else, to Thine own self be true," William Shakesphere.

"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." Isaac Asimov,

Foundation "Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane." Philip K. Dick, Valis

"He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it - namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to obtain." Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

"Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy." William Golding, Lord of the Flies.

"It's funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to." J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

"All that is gold does not glitter Not all those who wander are lost The old who are strong do not whither Deep roots are not reached by the frost"J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings "Is hequite safe?"

"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver [...] "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you." C.S. Lewis, Chronicles of Narnia

Finding a treasure of an idea in a quote as you read is a great pleasure and being able to share it with others is nearly as good. A good author often feels closer than a good friend and these quotes are the bonds of those friendships; and though alone they may not change us they remind us of the lessons our friends taught us.

Learn more about this author, Elton Gahr.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.