By now you know why I’m doing this.
Well, you know partly why. The real reason I am doing it is not because I was invited, though that helped. It is because certain utterances have stuck in my mind, guided my thinking, provided me with insight over the years. And without fail, when I extemporize them, I forget their precise wording. That’s no good, because a quote symbol must mean: “these were the actual words, perfect or imperfect.”
“And don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.”
–Leroy (Satchel) Paige as told to David Lipman, Maybe I’ll Pitch Forever
“The summer wore on and it proved a dismal season for the Imperial marshals. On August 1 Brune was caught and killed. On August 2 Ney was recognized and arrested. In October Murat appeared in the south and was promptly stood against a wall and shot. Two months later Ney was dead, the victim of a ruthless persecution by men who were unfit to polish his boots.”
–R.F. Delderfield, Napoleon’s Marshals
“The ruffians gave back. Scaring Breeland peasants, and bullying bewildered hobbits, had been their work. Fearless hobbits with bright swords and grim faces were a great surprise.”
–J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
The Editorial Maverick 
It’s amazing how quotes morph over the years. I believe in being word perfect when you quote leading back to the source with accuracy, but that’s just the scientist in me.
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Yeah, for this one I physically went to my library, propped the books open, and typed. I’m so used to fixing people’s English that I have to remind myself when it is specifically disallowed. Considering all the misattributions out there, I feel a duty to get them right. One surprise omission for myself was Churchill: I’m a tremendous fan of Winston the author (while acknowledging that great men can have great flaws), and I have many corners of his WWII memoirs dog-eared because they impressed or amused me. Thanks again for inviting me to contribute.
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I think Winston deserves a post of his own…
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Indeed. I’m not sure I am even qualified to explain why Churchill is such a genius with the English language, but I might have a better chance than some. I might at least get half of it, and feel that was a victory.
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You’re definitely qualified to explain what his books mean to you. You’ll probably inspire new readers.
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