Forests Quote by Samuel Johnson
“Corneille is to Shakespeare as a clipped hedge is to a forest.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Preface to The Plays of William Shakespeare, 1765
Samuel Johnson draws a comparison, Corneille’s concise style and Shakespeare’s expansive works, suggesting the former is a trimmed, controlled form versus the latter’s wild abundance.
In simple terms: Corneille is concise; Shakespeare is expansive.
Key Takeaway
Value both precision and richness.
Themes
literature
comparison
style
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
comparative
When to use this quote
- playwriting
- literary criticism
- education
- creative writing
- theatre production
Key Concepts
conciseness
abundance
artistic restraint
Questions to Reflect On
- How does brevity affect emotional impact?
- When does abundance overwhelm the audience?
A Different Perspective
The analogy may oversimplify each author’s diversity and context.
