Chapter 1: The Value of Quotes

In the realm of writing, the question often arises: should one quote or not? This fundamental dilemma plagues many authors. I have a friend, Terry Dwyer, who enjoys crafting quotes that encapsulate life lessons and inspire reflection. He favors archaic language, believing it carries an elegance that modern slang lacks. Such traditional expressions endure through time, unlike contemporary phrases that frequently lose their significance.

Here are a few of Terry's thought-provoking quotes worth contemplating:

“An honourable man prioritizes truth over ego, just as he would place the wheel before the cart.” — Terry Dwyer

“The true curse of humanity is greed; to toil for riches only to leave them behind is sheer folly.” — Terry Dwyer

“One should always be selfish by being generous.” — Terry Dwyer

“A genuinely wise individual learns from their misfortunes and cultivates wisdom within. Those who do not are wise only in their own eyes, much like a feather believes it is a bird.” — Terry Dwyer

But how can these quotes assist contemporary authors? Beyond personal value, authors must be judicious; readers often rush through texts and may not take the time to reflect. Personally, I prefer to employ quotes as guiding principles at the beginning of chapters, signaling to readers what they may encounter, especially when introducing novel ideas. Below are some opening quotes from my work, "Your Origin and Destiny":

“In an era of widespread deceit, speaking the truth is a revolutionary act.” — George Orwell

“True confidence invites honest inquiry.” — Peter Kreeft

“MIRACLES are merely a retelling of the grand narrative written across the universe in letters too large for some to perceive.” — C. S. Lewis

“While science cannot dictate to theology how to formulate a doctrine of creation, one cannot develop such a doctrine without considering the universe's age and the evolutionary nature of cosmic history.” — John Polkinghorne