--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is excellent discipline for an author…" description: "\"It is excellent discipline for an author to feel that he must say all he has to say in the fewest possible words, or his reader is sure to skip them; a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccd/john-ruskin-314_books_it-is-excellent-discipline-for-an-author_1653462.jpg" --- # It is excellent discipline for an author to feel that he… ![“It is excellent discipline for an author to feel that he must say all he has to say in the fewest possible words, or his reader is sure to skip them; and in the plainest possible words, or his reader will certainly misunderstand them. Generally, also, a downright fact may be told in a plain way…” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccd/john-ruskin-314_books_it-is-excellent-discipline-for-an-author_1653462.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccd/john-ruskin-314_books_it-is-excellent-discipline-for-an-author_1653462.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccd/john-ruskin-314_books_it-is-excellent-discipline-for-an-author_1653462.jpg) > “It is excellent discipline for an author to feel that he must say all he has to say in the fewest possible words, or his reader is sure to skip them; and in the plainest possible words, or his reader will certainly misunderstand them. Generally, also, a downright fact may be told in a plain way; and we want downright facts at present more than anything else.” [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An author should aim for concise, clear language to keep readers engaged and avoid misunderstanding. **In simple terms:** Write concisely to be understood. Key Takeaway Prioritize brevity and clarity. Themes writing communication clarity Mood thoughtful analytical Type advice instructional When to use this quote - editing - academic writing - journalism - teaching Key Concepts conciseness reader engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance brevity with depth? - When does simplicity hinder meaning? A Different Perspective Over‑editing may strip nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Brevity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brevity/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [It is excellent discipline for an author to feel that he must say all that he has to say in the fewest possible words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-excellent-discipline-for-an-author-to-feel-that-he-must-say-all/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [When I read a novel that I really like, I feel as if I am in direct, personal communication with the author. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/when-i-read-a-novel-that-i-really-like-i-feel-as-if-i-am-in-direct/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [I still pinch meself when I wake up of a morning...Who ever thought I'd be a children's author -- let alone a best-selling children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/i-still-pinch-meself-when-i-wake-up-of-a-morning-who-ever-thought-i-d-2/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [I know that I am a singer and an actor, yet in order to give the public the impression that I am neither one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-caruso/i-know-that-i-am-a-singer-and-an-actor-yet-in-order-to-give-the/) [Enrico Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-caruso/) > [It's easier to come up with new stories than it is to finish the ones you already have. I think every author would feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/it-s-easier-to-come-up-with-new-stories-than-it-is-to-finish-the-ones/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [Sometimes reactions can be quite surprising: readers like things that you, the author, feel you've barely gotten away with; or they dislike one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/sometimes-reactions-can-be-quite-surprising-readers-like-things-that/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I guess what inspires me most is the desire to draw out feelings that feel best expressed on the written page by really good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-maddin/i-guess-what-inspires-me-most-is-the-desire-to-draw-out-feelings-that/) [Guy Maddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-maddin/) > [if an author would have us feel a strong degree of compassion, his characters must not be too perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-letitia-barbauld/if-an-author-would-have-us-feel-a-strong-degree-of-compassion-his/) [Anna Letitia Barbauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-letitia-barbauld/) > [Say all you have to say in the fewest possible words, or your reader will be sure to skip them; and in the plainest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/say-all-you-have-to-say-in-the-fewest-possible-words-or-your-reader/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [If, in the very intense electric field in the neighbourhood of the cathode, the molecules of the gas are dissociated and are split up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-john-thomson/if-in-the-very-intense-electric-field-in-the-neighbourhood-of-the/) [Joseph John Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-john-thomson/) > [If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if an hour, I am ready now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/if-i-am-to-speak-ten-minutes-i-need-a-week-for-preparation-if-an-hour/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [This is going to take a while. I'm a fantasy author. We have trouble with the concept of brevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/this-is-going-to-take-a-while-i-m-a-fantasy-author-we-have-trouble/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“Life is too short to waste being a productive member of society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/life-is-too-short-to-waste-being-a-productive-member-of-society/) [Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/) > [“It's not my accent, but my brevity makes me stylish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/it-s-not-my-accent-but-my-brevity-makes-me-stylish/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [it is the brevity of life which makes it tolerable; its experiences have value because they have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/it-is-the-brevity-of-life-which-makes-it-tolerable-its-experiences/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) ## More by John Ruskin > [“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Mighty of heart, mighty of mind, magnanimous-to be this is indeed to be great in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/mighty-of-heart-mighty-of-mind-magnanimous-to-be-this-is-indeed-to-be/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/life-is-a-magic-vase-filled-to-the-brim-so-made-that-you-cannot-dip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I am far more provoked at being thought foolish by foolish people, than pleased at being thought sensible by sensible people; and the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-am-far-more-provoked-at-being-thought-foolish-by-foolish-people/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. 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