From Tahir Shah's...

In Arabian Nights...

Talking about how his father used to take them into the magic land of fairy tales...His father would rub his hand over his dark moustache, and down over his chin, and...

"...use the words that were the bridge into another world: 'Once upon a time . . .'"

What magic just reading these words...

Came across this...

in today's Business Standard:

the word pass-outs has been used for graduates...

As I read in one of the many sites on editing, cutting down too heavily on words can actually change the meaning, or as in the example above, coin some word which does not sound good at all...

An important analysis of kinds of books...

"There are good books, indifferent books, and bad books. Amongst the good bookss, some are honest, inspiring, moving, propehtic, and improving. But in my language there is another category: there are Ah! Books. Ah! Books are those which induce a fundamental change in the reader's condciousness. THey widen his sensibility in such a way that he is able to look upon familiar things as though he is seeing and understanding them for the first time. Ah! Books are galvanic. They touch the nerve-centre of the whole being so that the reader receives an almost palpable physical shock. A tremor of excited perception ripples through the person."

This is the description given by religious broadcaster and theologian Vernon Sproxton for 'Mister God, This Is Anna' by Sydney Hopkins under the pseudonym "Fynn"

The magical use of words...

I was trying to use a maxim on victory and defeat, and just couldn't find one that encapsulated what I wanted to express. So, went to Google, and got these....

Be gracious in defeat and magnanimous in victory

Be gracious in defeat and generous in victory

Strive to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat ~ Boots Williams

In war, resolution; in defeat, defiance; in victory, magnanimity ~ Winston Churchill

.....to be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory ~ Douglas MacArthur

Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory ~ Arthur Ashe

Talking about words that entice...

and the search for a word that would express all that you want to say...

Check this out:

I doubt you work in a kerfuffle-free milieu, and hornswoggling may occur betimes

Kerfuffle - a disturbance

Hornswoggling - a hoax, or to hoax

Wonderfully powerful...

thought-provoking words...

From Bertrand Russell:

In a mechanistic civilization, there is grave danger of a crude utilitarianism, which sacrifices the whole aesthetic side of life to what is called 'efficiency.'

and I particularly vibed with this--

'intellectual culture without emotional atrophy'

I think the words conjure up the images so well...

From...

Barack Obama's 'Dreams from My Father...

Words that conjure up a personality:
'I was intrigued by old Frank.................................with................. the hint of hard-earned knowledge behind the hooded eyes.'

And,

'Pop culture was color-coded........an arcade of images...'