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Just as the orator marks his good things by a dramatic…

“Just as the orator marks his good things by a dramatic pause, or by raising and lowering his voice, or by gesture, so the writer marks his epigrams with italics, setting the little gem, so to speak, like a jeweler.” quote by Oscar Wilde
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“Just as the orator marks his good things by a dramatic pause, or by raising and lowering his voice, or by gesture, so the writer marks his epigrams with italics, setting the little gem, so to speak, like a jeweler.”

Oscar Wilde

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Writers use typographic emphasis like italics to highlight memorable lines, similar to a speaker’s vocal or gestural cues.

In simple terms: Italics spotlight key phrases like a speaker’s pause.

Key Takeaway

Use italics to draw attention to important ideas.

Themes

writing emphasis literature

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

literary instructional

When to use this quote

  • editing
  • publishing
  • creative writing
  • public speaking

Key Concepts

typography visual rhetoric attention

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does visual emphasis affect reader focus?
  • When is italics appropriate?
A Different Perspective

Overuse can distract or diminish impact.

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