If a thing can be said in ten words, I may be relied upon…
“If a thing can be said in ten words, I may be relied upon to take a hundred to say it. I ought to apologize for that. I ought to prune, pare and extirpate excess growth, but I will not. I like words—strike that, I love words—and while I am fond of the condensed and economical use of them in poetry, in song lyrics, in Twitter, in good journalism and smart advertising, I love the luxuriant profusion and mad scatter of them too.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He acknowledges his love for both concise and elaborate language, yet admits he often overindulges in verbosity.
In simple terms: He loves words, both short and long, but tends to be wordy.
Key Takeaway
Practice concise expression.
Themes
communication
writing
self-awareness
Mood
thoughtful
humorous
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- writing
- editing
- social media posts
Key Concepts
literature
media
linguistics
Questions to Reflect On
- When is verbosity beneficial?
- How can you balance clarity and richness?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on brevity can sacrifice nuance.