Books Quote by Charlotte Brontë
““A large class of readers … will suffer greatly from the introduction into the pages of this work of words printed with all their letters, which it has become the custom to represent by the initial and final letter only—a blank line filling the interval. I may as well say at once that, for this circumstance, it is out of my power to apologise; deeming it, myself, a rational plan to write words at full length. The practice of hinting by single letters those expletive with which profane and violent persons are wont to garnish their discourse, strikes me as a proceeding which, however well meant, is weak and futile. I cannot tell what good it does—what feeling it spares—what horror it conceals.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Jane Eyre, 1847
The author condemns the practice of using only initials to hide profanity, arguing it is ineffective and conceals meaning.
In simple terms: Using initials to hide bad words is weak and hides meaning.
Key Takeaway
Avoid vague censorship; be clear.
Themes
censorship
language
clarity
literature
integrity
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
ethical
When to use this quote
- editing
- teaching
- publishing
- public speaking
Key Concepts
literary criticism
ethical communication
Questions to Reflect On
- Is clarity more important than politeness?
- How does hiding language affect understanding?
A Different Perspective
Such shortcuts can confuse readers and dilute impact.
