--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Take my advice, dear reader, don’t talk…" description: "\"Take my advice, dear reader, don’t talk epigrams even if you have the gift. I know, to those have, the temptation is almost irresistible. But resist it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/joseph-p-farrell-30695_advice_take-my-advice-dear-reader-don-t-talk-ep_3014059.png" --- # Take my advice, dear reader, don’t talk epigrams even if… ![“Take my advice, dear reader, don’t talk epigrams even if you have the gift. I know, to those have, the temptation is almost irresistible. But resist it. Epigram and truth are rarely commensurate. Truth has to be somewhat chiselled, as it were, before it will quite fit into an epigram.” quote by Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/joseph-p-farrell-30695_advice_take-my-advice-dear-reader-don-t-talk-ep_3014059.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/joseph-p-farrell-30695_advice_take-my-advice-dear-reader-don-t-talk-ep_3014059.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/joseph-p-farrell-30695_advice_take-my-advice-dear-reader-don-t-talk-ep_3014059.png) > “Take my advice, dear reader, don’t talk epigrams even if you have the gift. I know, to those have, the temptation is almost irresistible. But resist it. Epigram and truth are rarely commensurate. Truth has to be somewhat chiselled, as it were, before it will quite fit into an epigram.” [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Epigrams are concise, but truth often requires more nuance; forcing truth into a short form can distort it. **In simple terms:** Truth needs nuance; epigrams are too brief. Key Takeaway Prioritize depth over brevity when needed. Themes truth brevity communication Mood critical thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - essay writing - public speaking - media commentary Key Concepts philosophy writing Questions to Reflect On - When is a short form appropriate? - How do you preserve nuance in limited space? A Different Perspective Brevity can oversimplify complex ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Epigram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epigram/) [Epigrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epigrams/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) ## Related quotes > [Epigram and truth are rarely commensurate. Truth has to get somewhat chiseled, as it were, before it will fit into an epigram.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/epigram-and-truth-are-rarely-commensurate-truth-has-to-get-somewhat/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) > [You can cram a truth into an epigram - the truth, never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/you-can-cram-a-truth-into-an-epigram-the-truth-never/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) > [“A maid’s yard, house, wardrobe, fridge, etc. sometimes also serve as her master’s dustbin or dumpsite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-maid-s-yard-house-wardrobe-fridge-etc-sometimes-also-serve-as-her/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I summed up all systems in a phrase, and all existence in an epigram.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-summed-up-all-systems-in-a-phrase-and-all-existence-in-an-epigram/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Some learned writers . . . have compared a Scorpion to an Epigram . . . because as the sting of the Scorpion lyeth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-topsell/some-learned-writers-have-compared-a-scorpion-to-an-epigram-because/) [Edward Topsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-topsell/) > [“Most sane human beings’ chances of being alive in a thousand years’ time are a hundred times higher than their chances of being sincerely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/most-sane-human-beings-chances-of-being-alive-in-a-thousand-years/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Some people who have been working out regularly for months or even years are still out of shape because the number of cheat days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-people-who-have-been-working-out-regularly-for-months-or-even/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Some people would have killed themselves and/or someone else if they were single; and some people would not have done that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-people-would-have-killed-themselves-and-or-someone-else-if-they/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I am mistaken if a single epigram included fails to preserve at least some faint thrill of the emotion through which it had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-quiller-couch/i-am-mistaken-if-a-single-epigram-included-fails-to-preserve-at-least/) [Arthur Quiller-Couch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-quiller-couch/) > [“Millions of business people are each constantly forced to choose between their desire to not be a bad person and their desire to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/millions-of-business-people-are-each-constantly-forced-to-choose/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [The width of a line may present the idea of infinity. An epigram may contain a world. In the same way, a small picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/the-width-of-a-line-may-present-the-idea-of-infinity-an-epigram-may/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [“Most human beings would have never been pained by the death of a human being if they had never seen a human being or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/most-human-beings-would-have-never-been-pained-by-the-death-of-a/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“An expensive coffin does not decrease the deceased’s chances of going to hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/an-expensive-coffin-does-not-decrease-the-deceased-s-chances-of-going/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) ## More by Joseph P. Farrell > [If you go in for argument take care of your temper. Your logic if you have any will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/if-you-go-in-for-argument-take-care-of-your-temper-your-logic-if-you/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) > [Most people like praise . . . When it is really deserved, most people expand under it into richer and better selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/most-people-like-praise-when-it-is-really-deserved-most-people-expand/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) > [“An error in the doctrine of God will have inevitable consequences in the sphere of action, of moral behaviour, of the polity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/an-error-in-the-doctrine-of-god-will-have-inevitable-consequences-in/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) > [The secret of all power is - save your force. If you want high pressure you must choke off waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/the-secret-of-all-power-is-save-your-force-if-you-want-high-pressure/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) > [Epigram and truth are rarely commensurate. Truth has to get somewhat chiseled, as it were, before it will fit into an epigram.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/epigram-and-truth-are-rarely-commensurate-truth-has-to-get-somewhat/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) > [There is an illusion that has much to do with... most of our unhappiness… We expect too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/there-is-an-illusion-that-has-much-to-do-with-most-of-our-unhappiness/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) > [“one dinosaur, the iguanodon, which did”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/one-dinosaur-the-iguanodon-which-did/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) > [“...carved marble figures in strata that "suggests the characters were made by intelligent humans from the distant past," a section of gold thread found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/carved-marble-figures-in-strata-that-suggests-the-characters-were/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) > [We are odd compounds full of explosive material to which circumstances may at any time apply a spark, with results undreamed of even by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/we-are-odd-compounds-full-of-explosive-material-to-which/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) > [The man who most vividly realizes a difficulty is the man most likely to overcome it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/the-man-who-most-vividly-realizes-a-difficulty-is-the-man-most-likely/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) > [When a man thinks he is reading the character of another, he is often unconsciously betraying his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/when-a-man-thinks-he-is-reading-the-character-of-another-he-is-often/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) > [When a man thinks he is reading the character of another, he is often unconsciously betraying his own; and this is especially the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/when-a-man-thinks-he-is-reading-the-character-of-another-he-is-often-2/) [Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) [Explore all 13 Joseph P. Farrell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Take my advice, dear reader, don’t talk epigrams even if you have the gift. I know, to those have, the temptation is almost irresistible. But resist it. Epigram and truth are rarely commensurate. 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