Dramatic Quote by Oscar Wilde
“Just as the orator marks his good things by a dramatic pause, or by raising and lowering his voice, or by gesture, so the writer marks his epigrams with italics, setting the little gem, so to speak, like a jeweler.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Decay of Lying, Oscar Wilde, 1891
Writers use typographic emphasis like italics to highlight memorable lines, similar to a speaker’s vocal or gestural cues.
In simple terms: Italics spotlight key phrases like a speaker’s pause.
Key Takeaway
Use italics to draw attention to important ideas.
Themes
writing
emphasis
literature
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
literary
instructional
When to use this quote
- editing
- publishing
- creative writing
- public speaking
Key Concepts
typography
visual rhetoric
attention
Questions to Reflect On
- How does visual emphasis affect reader focus?
- When is italics appropriate?
A Different Perspective
Overuse can distract or diminish impact.
