“[F]or a social theorist ignorance is more excusable than vagueness. Other investigators can easily show I am wrong if I am sufficiently precise. They will have much more difficulty showing by investigation what, precisely, I mean if I am vague. I hope not to be forced to weasel out with 'But I didn’t really mean that.' Social theorists should prefer to be wrong rather than misunderstood. Being misunderstood shows sloppy theoretical work.”

“I would rather be vaguely right than precisely wrong.”

“Here am I, sweating my brains out to introduce a really sensational incident into your dull and disreputable little police investigation, and you refuse to show a single spark of enthusiasm.”

“I am not a very good man, Effie, but I think that I am a better one than you have given me credit for being.”

“I am aware that I am less than some people prefer me to be, but most people are unaware that I am so much more than what they see.”

“I am afraid that I rather give myself away when I explain," said he. "Results without causes are much more impressive.”

“I am afraid to show you who I really am, because if I show you who I really am, you might not like it--and that's all I got.”