Misquotation is, in fact, the pride and privilege of the…
“Misquotation is, in fact, the pride and privilege of the learned. A widely- read man never quotes accurately, for the rather obvious reason that he has read too widely.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Overly broad reading leads to inaccurate quoting, showing that expertise can dilute precision.
In simple terms: Reading too much makes quoting inaccurate.
Focus on depth over breadth.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- public speaking
- research
- teaching
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does breadth affect precision?
- When is it okay to paraphrase?
Broad reading can sacrifice detail and reliability.