What is it With These Stupid Quotes?

Publisher’s note: It’s once again time for Earlywood (and perhaps a bit of clarity). Earlywood is a free excerpt from one of the thousands of pieces I’ve written since 1996. Sometimes, it’s from a magazine article. Or a book. Or (in this case) a blog post from 2012. Each entry has been updated or annotated with some modern context or point of view. We hope you enjoy it.

I don’t collect tools, books or even Hummels (he said, throwing up a little in his mouth).

Instead, I like to collect clarity.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always gathered little scraps of paper filled with notes jotted down from the books I’ve read, the lectures I’ve attended and the friends I’ve had beers with. I am a great admirer of people who can frame their ideas in a compelling way using as few words as possible – even if I vehemently disagree with them.

I turn these phrases over and over in my mind, like a fine object. I examine the workmanship, look for flaws and study the social context in which they were made. I…