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Clauses Quote by Charles Caleb Colton

“The Grecian’s maxim would indeed be a sweeping clause in Literature; it would reduce many a giant to a pygmy; many a speech to a sentence; and many a folio to a primer.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton
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“The Grecian’s maxim would indeed be a sweeping clause in Literature; it would reduce many a giant to a pygmy; many a speech to a sentence; and many a folio to a primer.”

Charles Caleb Colton

About This Quote

Source Essay: Thoughts on Literature, 1820

A sweeping literary rule simplifies complex works, reducing grandeur to basics.

In simple terms: Simplify to understand.

Key Takeaway

Embrace concise expression.

Themes

literature language brevity interpretation

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

educational philosophical

When to use this quote

  • editing
  • teaching
  • writing workshops

Key Concepts

semantic reduction literary analysis communication theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • When is brevity harmful?
  • How to balance depth and clarity?
A Different Perspective

Over‑simplification may lose nuance.

2.8 out of 5 (8 ratings)

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