Intelligence Quote by Richard Ford
““I like writing that’s smart on the page.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 1999
Writing should be intellectually engaging and clear, balancing cleverness with readability.
In simple terms: Smart writing is clear and clever.
Aim for clarity and wit.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- editing
- teaching creative writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you keep wit from obscuring meaning?
- When does cleverness hinder communication?
Cleverness can become pretentious.