William Safire quotes

Never assume the obvious is true. (William Safire)
Decide on some imperfect Somebody and you will win, because the truest truism in politics is: You can't beat Somebody with Nobody.
William Safire
I'm willing to zap conservatives when they do things that are not libertarian. I was the first to really go after George W. on his treatment of prisoners.
William Safire
I welcome new words, or old words used in new ways, provided the result is more precision, added color or greater expressiveness.
William Safire
I think we all have a need to know what we do not need to know.
William Safire
The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right.
William Safire
Is sloppiness in speech caused by ignorance or apathy? I don't know and I don't care.
William Safire
Americans of all persuasions are coming to the sad realization that our First Lady – a woman of undoubted talents who was a role model for many of her generation – is a congenital liar.
William Safire
In the United States today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism.
William Safire
What do you call a co-worker these days? Neither teammate nor confederate will do, and partner is too legalistic. The answer brought from academia to the political world by Henry Kissinger and now bandied in the boardroom is colleague. It has a nice upper-egalitarian feel, related to the good fellowship of collegial.
William Safire
Last, but not least, avoid cliches like the plague. (William Safire)
Knowing how things work is the basis for appreciation, and is thus a source of civilized delight.
William Safire
Cast aside any column about two subjects. It means the pundit chickened out on the hard decision about what to write about that day.
William Safire
Writers who used to show off their erudition no longer sing in the bare ruined choir of the media.
William Safire
When articulation is impossible, gesticulation comes to the rescue.
William Safire
The wonderful thing about being a New York Times columnist is that it's like a Supreme Court appointment - they're stuck with you for a long time.
William Safire
When I need to know the meaning of a word, I look it up in a dictionary.
William Safire
One challenge to the arts in America is the need to make the arts, especially the classic masterpieces, accessible and relevant to today's audience.
William Safire
A reader ought to be able to hold it and become familiar with its organized contents and make it a mind's manageable companion.
William Safire
Have a definite opinion.
William Safire
If you re-read your work, you can find on re-reading a great deal of repetition can be avoided by re-reading and editing. (William Safire)
At a certain point, what people mean when they use a word becomes its meaning.
William Safire
Do not be taken in by 'insiderisms.' Fledgling columnists, eager to impress readers with their grasp of journalistic jargon, are drawn to such arcane spellings as 'lede.' Where they lede, do not follow.
William Safire
Previously known for its six syllables of sweetness and light, reconciliation has become the political fighting word of the year.
William Safire
A book should have an intellectual shape and a heft that comes with dealing with a primary subject.
William Safire