Cassio. The divine Desdemona.
Montano. What is she?
Cassio. She that I spake of, our great captain’s captain.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
All experience teaches that, whenever there is a great national establishment, employing large numbers of officials, the public must be reconciled to support many incompetent men; for such is the favoritism and nepotism always prevailing in the purlieus of these establishments, that some incompetent persons are always admitted, to the exclusion of many of the worthy.
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
We use important words too frequently and they lose value; for instance, charm and great. An actor or musician often is proclaimed great when we really mean he is outstanding.
—Eleanor Robson Belmont (1878–1979)