Art Quote by Edward Abbey
“Henry James was our master of periphrasis -- the fine art of saying as little as possible in the greatest number of words.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey, 1975
Henry James excelled at using many words to say very little, highlighting the art of over‑elaboration.
In simple terms: James used many words for little meaning.
Beware of excessive verbosity.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- editing
- writing workshops
- academic papers
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When is detailed language necessary?
- How does brevity affect clarity?
Complex ideas sometimes need elaborate expression.