“In description words adhere to certain objects, and have the effect on the sense of oysters, or barnacles.”

“The only thing that words can do with any real precision or accuracy is hang together. Accuracy of description in language is not possible beyond a certain point: the most faithfully descriptive account of anything will always turn away from what it describes into its own self-contained grammatical fictions of subject and predicate and object.”

“When a word ceases to be a term of description and becomes merely a term of praise, it no longer tells you about the object: it only tells you about the speakers attitude to that object.”

“To condescend effectively it is clearly necessary to adhere to a narrow definition of relevant data.”

“What right have you to take the word wealth, which originally meant ''well-being,'' and degrade and narrow it by confining it to certain sorts of material objects measured by money.”

“I have ceased to think even of barnacles!' -Charles Darwin”