Henry James was our master of periphrasis -- the fine art…
“Henry James was our master of periphrasis -- the fine art of saying as little as possible in the greatest number of words.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Henry James excelled at using many words to say very little, highlighting the art of over‑elaboration.
In simple terms: James used many words for little meaning.
Beware of excessive verbosity.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- editing
- writing workshops
- academic papers
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When is detailed language necessary?
- How does brevity affect clarity?
Complex ideas sometimes need elaborate expression.