Brief Quote by Robert Southey
“If you would be pungent, be brief; for it is with words as with sunbeams - the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unspecified, 19th century
Brevity intensifies impact; concise words, like focused sunlight, have greater power.
In simple terms: Short words hit harder.
Key Takeaway
Speak concisely for stronger effect.
Themes
communication
writing
efficiency
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
literary
advice
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- advertising
- poetry
- teaching
Key Concepts
rhetoric
conciseness
Questions to Reflect On
- When does brevity become vague?
- How to balance clarity and brevity?
A Different Perspective
Over‑compression can obscure meaning.
![“I likened her to the slender PSYCHÉ and judged that the perfection of her face ennobled everything unclean around her: The dusty hems of her bunched-up skirt, the worn straps of her nightshirt; the blackened soles of her bare feet [...] All this and the pungent air! Ô this night, sweet pungent…” quote by Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4bd/roman-payne-1959_barcelona_i-likened-her-to-the-slender-psych-and-j_2753140.jpg)
