Brevity Quotes

86 quotes by 71 authors

Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its shortness. — Jean de la Bruyere
The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending, then having the two as close together as possible. — George Burns
Brevity is the best recommendation of speech, whether in a senator or an orator. — Marcus Tullius Cicero
Brevity is a great charm of eloquence. — Marcus Tullius Cicero
Brevity - the sister of talent. — Anton Chekhov
Whatever advice you give, be short. — Horace
The breaking up of the terrestrial globe, this it is we witness. It doubtless began a long time ago, and the brevity of human life… — Eduard Suess
Teach him a certain refinement in sorting out and selecting his arguments, with an affection for relevance and so for brevity. Above all let him… — Michel de Montaigne
Writing is 1 percent inspiration, and 99 percent elimination. — Louise Brooks
My four articles of faith: clarity, simplicity, brevity and humanity. — William Zinsser
Four basic premises of writing: clarity, brevity, simplicity, and humanity. — William Zinsser
What is an epigram? A dwarfish whole, its body brevity, and wit its soul. — Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Short stories consume you faster. They're connected to brevity. With the short story, you are up against mortality. I know how tough they are as… — Ali Smith
Many things prevent knowledge, including the obscurity of the subject and the brevity of human life — Protagoras
Children should not be coddled in their intellectual training any more than in their physical; and though the studies should be made interesting the interest… — Arthur Lynch
A short saying often contains much wisdom. — Sophocles
Not to discriminate every moment some passionate attitude in those about us, and in the very brilliancy of their gifts some tragic dividing of forces… — Walter Pater
It's no use telling us that something was 'mysterious' or 'loathsome' or 'awe-inspiring' or 'voluptuous.' By direct description, by metaphor and simile, by secretly evoking… — C.S. Lewis
Folk melodies are the embodiment of an artistic perfection of the highest order; in fact, they are models of the way in which a musical… — Bela Bartok
Conversation! Supple sentences, with first and second meanings and overtones beyond, outrageous challenges with cleverly planned slip-points, rebuttals of elegant brevity; deceptions and guiles, patient… — Jack Vance

Who Wrote These Brevity Quotes

71 authors contributed a total of 86 Brevity Quotes, led by these top contributors: