Quotation
...insipid. The only case that offers an exception to this rule arises when it is necessary to make a remark that is in some way improper.
As exaggeration generally produces an effect the opposite of that aimed at; so words, it is true, serve to make thought intelligible--but only up to a certain point. If words are heaped up beyond it, the thought becomes more and more obscure again. To find where the point lies is the problem of style, and the business of the critical faculty; forA word too much always defeats its purpose.
This is what Voltaire means when he says that _the adjective is the enemy of the substantive_. But, as we have seen, many people try to conceal their poverty of thought under a flood of verbiage.
Accordingly let all redundancy be avoided, all stringing together of remarks which have no meaning and are not worth perusal. A writer must make a sparing use of the reader's time, patience and attention; so as to lead him to believe that his author writes what is worth careful study, and... Schopenhauer, Arthur
Excerpt from The Essays of Arthur Schopenhauer; The Art of Literature · This quote is filed under Words · Search on Google Books to find all references and sources for this quotation · Tell us if you know any facts or errors in this quote · Make a shirt with this quote on our USA or UK shop · Help your friends discover QB
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A word too much always defeats its purpose.