Betray Quote by Edward Abbey
“Style: There is something in too much verbal felicity (as in Joyce or Nabokov or Borges) that can betray the writer into technique for the sake of technique.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Thoughts on Writing, 1975
Overly ornate language can prioritize style over substance, revealing a writer’s preoccupation with technique rather than meaning.
In simple terms: Too much fancy language hides real ideas.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize clarity over showy prose.
Themes
writing
style
technique
authenticity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
literary
When to use this quote
- academic essays
- creative writing workshops
- editing sessions
Key Concepts
literary criticism
self‑awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your prose serve the story?
- When does style become a distraction?
A Different Perspective
Excessive flair may alienate readers seeking clear communication.
![“This book first arose out of a passage in [Jorge Luis] Borges, out of the laughter that shattered, as I read the passage, all the familiar landmarks of my thought—our thought that bears the stamp of our age and our geography—breaking up all the ordered surfaces and all the planes with which we are…” quote by Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9a1/michel-foucault-1134_animals_this-book-first-arose-out-of-a-passage-i_571093.jpg)
