Some people simply run out of words or encounter difficulty in expressing and finding exact words, which results in failure to reveal what is really on their mind. Others do not know how to play with words. They fail to choose and use best style that would catch and sustain readers' and audience' interest. A number lack persuasion due to insufficient proof and evidence supporting their thesis. That is: one point they want to make. Few cannot find appealing way of starting or introducing argument. Okay, let's say that introduction is well established, but loophole is in body if not in conclusion. The thesis is not spelled out in body. Ideas justifying their logic are not accurately displayed. Their conclusion lacks emphasis, which if made better would definitely create a mark in their audience' mind.

These are some of ailments of writing and of giving speeches (I mentioned public speaking here since its bottom-line is still writing). One of best antidotes of these ailments is to exercise magic of quotations. You can be a guru of employing magic of quotations once you know what is, when and how to use quotations.

"By necessity, by proclivity, and by delight, we all quote." -Ralph Waldo Emerson-

Quotation

ýan exact reproduction of another speaker's or writer's words. ýa way of incorporating information from other sources into your own writing. ýinspires your creative thinking ýstrengthens your essays and research papers

The Uses of Quotation

"Words ... so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become, in hands of one who knows how to combine them!" -Nathaniel Hawthorne-

So when your own words are not enough to substantiate your argument, to illustrate or explain an opinion or idea, use quotations.

"The most noble and profitable invention of all other was that of speech, consisting of names or appellations, and their connection; whereby men register their thoughts, recall them when they are past, and also declare them one to another for mutual utility and conversation; without which there had been amongst men neither commonwealth, nor society, nor contract, nor peace, no more than amongst lions, bears and wolves." -Thomas Hobbes -

How can making goals and having a focus be a prison cell we hear you ask. It becomes a prison cell when you create goals based on your past experiences. You look back at your skills and capabilities and then decide what you ought to focus on. In other words you set future on past. It creates illusion that you are going forward when all time you are stuck within boundary of your past capabilities. It’s like driving your car by looking in rear view mirror all time. You have a great vision of what happened in past but haven’t a clue about what is coming in front of you. The point is: whatever happened in past is not a true indication of your potential.

As Alan Cohen stated: "To grow, you must be willing to let your present and future be totally unlike your past. Your history is not your destiny."

In other words if you continue to do what you have always done then you can only expect to get what you’ve always got. If you constantly focus on past, negative or on what is missing in your life you have no alternative but to create limited goals and focus. You are back in that prison cell again.

You need to break cycle. How do you do it? You change your thinking. To give yourself chance of changing your thinking. A chance to create life you want. A chance to create a focus and goals that you want to achieve. Start by answering following questions. They are not easy, but they will enable you, in time, to become very focussed.

Where are you now? Where are you in life? Describe your current situation.

What are your priorities in life?

How important are your close friends and relations to you?

What influence do you have on your partner’s life? How do they influence you? Do you like this?

Do you like where your life is going?

Where do you want to go?

What is success to you? When you are on your death bed looking back at your life what would you like to think your life was about?