--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some persons never attain to the happy…" description: "\"Some persons never attain to the happy art of perspicuous expression, and it is equally true that some persons, thro' a mental defect of their own, wil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9c/oliver-ellsworth-29122_ambiguous_some-persons-never-attain-to-the-happy-a_2138697.jpg" --- # Some persons never attain to the happy art of perspicuous… ![“Some persons never attain to the happy art of perspicuous expression, and it is equally true that some persons, thro' a mental defect of their own, will judge the most correct and certain language of others to be indefinite and ambiguous.” quote by Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9c/oliver-ellsworth-29122_ambiguous_some-persons-never-attain-to-the-happy-a_2138697.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9c/oliver-ellsworth-29122_ambiguous_some-persons-never-attain-to-the-happy-a_2138697.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9c/oliver-ellsworth-29122_ambiguous_some-persons-never-attain-to-the-happy-a_2138697.jpg) > “Some persons never attain to the happy art of perspicuous expression, and it is equally true that some persons, thro' a mental defect of their own, will judge the most correct and certain language of others to be indefinite and ambiguous.” [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clear expression is rare; some people, due to mental flaws, find even precise language vague and ambiguous. **In simple terms:** Clear speech is hard; some see it as vague. Key Takeaway Strive for clarity in communication. Themes communication language cognition clarity perception Mood thoughtful analytical educational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - legal writing - teaching - public speaking - interpersonal dialogue Key Concepts semantic ambiguity cognitive bias interpretation challenges linguistic precision Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle ambiguous language? - Can ambiguity be productive? A Different Perspective Insisting on absolute clarity can ignore valuable nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Indefinite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indefinite/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Mutual forbearance and reciprocal concessions: thro' their agency the Union was established - the patriotic spirit from which they emanated will forever sustain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/mutual-forbearance-and-reciprocal-concessions-thro-their-agency-the/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) ## More by Oliver Ellsworth > [A people cannot long retain their freedom, whose government is incapable of protecting them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/a-people-cannot-long-retain-their-freedom-whose-government-is/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [A government capable of controlling the whole, and bringing its force to a point, is one of the prerequisites for national liberty. We combine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/a-government-capable-of-controlling-the-whole-and-bringing-its-force/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [The Thirteen States are Thirteen Sovereign bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-thirteen-states-are-thirteen-sovereign-bodies/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [The powers of congress must be defined, but their means must be adequate to the purposes of their constitution. It is possible there may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-powers-of-congress-must-be-defined-but-their-means-must-be/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [Systems of religious error have been adopted in times of ignorance. It has been the interest of tyrannical kings, popes, and prelates to maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/systems-of-religious-error-have-been-adopted-in-times-of-ignorance-it/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [The charge of being ambiguous and indefinite may be brought against every human composition, and necessarily arises from the imperfection of language. Perhaps no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-charge-of-being-ambiguous-and-indefinite-may-be-brought-against/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [The power of collecting money from the people is not to be rejected because it has sometimes been oppressive. Public credit is as necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-power-of-collecting-money-from-the-people-is-not-to-be-rejected/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [The right of the judge to inflict punishment gives him both power and opportunity to oppress the innocent; yet none but crazy men will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-right-of-the-judge-to-inflict-punishment-gives-him-both-power-and/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [“Liberty is a word which, according as it is used, comprehends the most good and the most evil of any in the world. Justly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/liberty-is-a-word-which-according-as-it-is-used-comprehends-the-most/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [Liberty is a word which, according as it is used, comprehends the most good and the most evil of any in the world. Justly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/liberty-is-a-word-which-according-as-it-is-used-comprehends-the-most-2/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [The sole purpose and effect of it is to exclude persecution and to secure the important right of religious liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-sole-purpose-and-effect-of-it-is-to-exclude-persecution-and-to/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [A desire of gain is common to mankind, and the general motive to business and industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/a-desire-of-gain-is-common-to-mankind-and-the-general-motive-to/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [All good men wish the entire abolition of slavery, as soon as it can take place with safety to the public, and for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/all-good-men-wish-the-entire-abolition-of-slavery-as-soon-as-it-can/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [Legislatures have no right to set up an inquisition and examine into the private opinions of men. Test-laws are useless and ineffectual, unjust and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/legislatures-have-no-right-to-set-up-an-inquisition-and-examine-into/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [It may be assumed as a fixed truth that the prosperity and riches of the farmer must depend on the prosperity and good national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/it-may-be-assumed-as-a-fixed-truth-that-the-prosperity-and-riches-of/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) [Explore all 18 Oliver Ellsworth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) ## More Ambiguous quotes > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Happiness can be bought with a bottle of wine and has become ambiguous through overuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-can-be-bought-with-a-bottle-of-wine-and-has-become/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Somehow, in the novel format, I don't really like to do upfront, ideological discussion. 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