My Clippings File

\Col`lec*ta"ne*a\, n. pl. [Neut. pl. from L. collectaneus collected, fr. colligere. See {Collect}, v. t.] Passages selected from various authors, usually for purposes of instruction; miscellany; anthology. Webster's 1913

From a passage selected at random

Ever Tried, Ever Failed

Ever tried, ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

Samuel Beckett

more...

Mother's habit of clipping stuff rubbed off on me early and it stuck. She clipped mostly recipes but I'm more of a generalist. I'll clip anything that grabs my fancy.

The Value of Notebooks

"I never actually get around to reading them and using what I've written, but I do tend to reproduce the same thoughts later."

I write down things that surprise me in notebooks. I never actually get around to reading them and using what I've written, but I do tend to reproduce the same thoughts later. So the main value of notebooks may be what writing things down leaves in your head.

The Age of the Essay, Paul Graham, September 2004

clipped April 4, 2005

Collection: On Writing - Philosophy