[Mary Wortley Montagu] wrote more letters, with fewer…
![“[Mary Wortley Montagu] wrote more letters, with fewer punctuation marks, than any Englishwoman of her day; and her nephew, the fourth Baron Rokeby, nearly blinded himself in deciphering the two volumes of undated correspondence which were printed in 1810. Two more followed in 1813, after which the…” quote by Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/b2b/agnes-repplier-1850_benefits_mary-wortley-montagu-wrote-more-letters_1332253.jpg)
“[Mary Wortley Montagu] wrote more letters, with fewer punctuation marks, than any Englishwoman of her day; and her nephew, the fourth Baron Rokeby, nearly blinded himself in deciphering the two volumes of undated correspondence which were printed in 1810. Two more followed in 1813, after which the gallant Baron either died at his post or was smitten with despair; for sixty-eight cases of letters lay undisturbed ... 'Les morts n'écrivent point,' said Madame de Maintenon hopefully; but of what benefit is this inactivity, when we still continue to receive their letters?”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote highlights how excessive correspondence without proper punctuation hampers comprehension, leading to frustration and wasted effort.
In simple terms: Too many letters, too few commas, cause confusion.
Key Takeaway
Use clear punctuation to aid understanding.
Themes
communication
clarity
literature
history
frustration
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
observational
historical
When to use this quote
- archival research
- editing
- teaching writing
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
punctuation
letter writing
reading comprehension
Questions to Reflect On
- How does punctuation affect the meaning of a text?
- What strategies help manage large collections of correspondence?
A Different Perspective
Even with clear punctuation, the sheer volume of letters can still overwhelm readers.