Alternatives Quote by John Lukacs
“Our everyday language has become encumbered, Germanic, artificial, bureaucratic, inorganic. It may not be exaggerated to say that by now American writers face but two alternatives: write English, or write gobbledygook.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Decline of American Prose, 1990s, John Lukacs
Modern American writing is trapped between overly formal, bureaucratic language and meaningless jargon, limiting clear communication.
In simple terms: Writers face a choice between clear English and confusing jargon.
Key Takeaway
Choose clarity over complexity.
Themes
communication
language
clarity
Mood
frustrated
critical
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- journalism
- academic writing
- business reports
- political speeches
Key Concepts
bureaucracy
artificiality
gobbledegook
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers resist bureaucratic pressure?
- What habits foster plain language?
A Different Perspective
Even clear English can be misused to obscure truth.
![“It was thus that in 1940 [Hitler] represented a wave of the future. His greatest reactionary opponent, Churchill, was like King Canute, attempting to withstand and sweep back that wave. And––yes, mirabile dictu—this King Canute succeeded: because of his resolution and—allow me to say this—because…” quote by John Lukacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e73/john-lukacs-34182_churchill_it-was-thus-that-in-1940-hitler-represen_1691887.jpg)
![“[When asked how it felt to be a female prime minister:] I don't know: I've never experienced the alternative.” quote by Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/324/margaret-thatcher-463_alternatives_when-asked-how-it-felt-to-be-a-female-pr_15081.jpg)
