I have one word to say upon the subject of profound…
““I have one word to say upon the subject of profound writers, who are grown very numerous of late; and I know very well the judicious world is resolved to list me in that number. I conceive therefore, as to the business of being profound, that it is with writers as with wells; a person with good eyes may see to the bottom of the deepest, provided any water be there; and often, when there is nothing in the world at the bottom, besides dryness and dirt, though it be but a yard and half under ground, it shall pass however for wondrous deep, upon no wiser a reason than because it is wondrous dark.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Profoundness is often pretended; depth can be superficial, like a well that appears deep but contains only dirt.
In simple terms: Depth can be fake.
Key Takeaway
Question true substance.
Themes
pretension
depth
literature
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
satirical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- social commentary
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
philosophy
critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we discern genuine depth?
- When does complexity become pretension?
A Different Perspective
Depth without content is meaningless.