--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Words in prose ought to express the…" description: "\"Words in prose ought to express the intended meaning; if they attract attention to themselves, it is a fault; in the very best styles you read page aft..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_attention_words-in-prose-ought-to-express-the-inte_810212.jpg" --- # Words in prose ought to express the intended meaning; if… ![“Words in prose ought to express the intended meaning; if they attract attention to themselves, it is a fault; in the very best styles you read page after page without noticing the medium. Works of imagination should be written in very plain language; the more purely imaginative they are, the more…” quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_attention_words-in-prose-ought-to-express-the-inte_810212.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_attention_words-in-prose-ought-to-express-the-inte_810212.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7a/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_attention_words-in-prose-ought-to-express-the-inte_810212.jpg) > “Words in prose ought to express the intended meaning; if they attract attention to themselves, it is a fault; in the very best styles you read page after page without noticing the medium. Works of imagination should be written in very plain language; the more purely imaginative they are, the more necessary it is to be plain.” [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clear, unobtrusive prose lets ideas shine; flashy language distracts and hinders immersion. **In simple terms:** Plain language serves imagination. Key Takeaway Write plainly to let ideas stand out. Themes clarity style imagination Mood thoughtful analytical Type didactic literary When to use this quote - teaching writing - editing - creative writing - reading comprehension Key Concepts literary criticism writing theory Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance simplicity with depth? - When does plain language limit artistic expression? A Different Perspective Plainness may oversimplify complex ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Imaginative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imaginative/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Plain language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plain-language/) [Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prose/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Works of imagination should be written in very plain language; the more purely imaginative they are the more necessary it is to be plain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/works-of-imagination-should-be-written-in-very-plain-language-the/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The definition of good prose is proper words in their proper places; of good verse, the most proper words in their proper places.The propriety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-definition-of-good-prose-is-proper-words-in-their-proper-places/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The words in prose ought to express the intended meaning, and no more; if they attract attention to themselves, it is, in general, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-words-in-prose-ought-to-express-the-intended-meaning-and-no-more/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“Artistry is the dance of color & form, whether visual, musical, or sparked in the imagination by the written word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathryn-louis/artistry-is-the-dance-of-color-form-whether-visual-musical-or-sparked/) [Cathryn Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathryn-louis/) > [Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/keep-your-exclamation-points-under-control-you-are-allowed-no-more/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [One merit of poetry few persons will deny: it says more and in fewer words than prose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/one-merit-of-poetry-few-persons-will-deny-it-says-more-and-in-fewer/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“I’m a man of music as much as I am a man of words and prose. One could even possibly say that they, music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-trandahl/i-m-a-man-of-music-as-much-as-i-am-a-man-of-words-and-prose-one-could/) [Nicholas Trandahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-trandahl/) > [“Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules of Writing 1. Never open a book with weather. 2. Avoid prologues. 3. Never use a verb other than "said"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/elmore-leonard-s-ten-rules-of-writing-1-never-open-a-book-with/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [If you can't describe your strategy in twenty minutes, simply and in plain language, you haven't got a plan. 'But,' people may say, 'I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bossidy/if-you-can-t-describe-your-strategy-in-twenty-minutes-simply-and-in/) [Lawrence Bossidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bossidy/) > [“There were eight simple lessons in plain language anybody could understand, and I studied them just a few hours a night, then started practising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-lewis/there-were-eight-simple-lessons-in-plain-language-anybody-could/) [Sinclair Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-lewis/) > [In prose, I think you sometimes have to write in very plain language, where every line may not seem to be so important, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/in-prose-i-think-you-sometimes-have-to-write-in-very-plain-language/) [Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/) > [I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true for if so the plain language of the text seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-can-indeed-hardly-see-how-anyone-ought-to-wish-christianity-to-be/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [People of a television culture need “plain language” both aurally and visually, and will even go so far as to require it in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/people-of-a-television-culture-need-plain-language-both-aurally-and/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“And for her, now, replaced by the plain language of the dogs, who in a few syllables have everything to say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleopatra-mathis/and-for-her-now-replaced-by-the-plain-language-of-the-dogs-who-in-a/) [Cleopatra Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleopatra-mathis/) > [The chief virtue that language can have is clarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/the-chief-virtue-that-language-can-have-is-clarity/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) ## More by Samuel Taylor Coleridge > [Humor is consistent with pathos, whilst wit is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/humor-is-consistent-with-pathos-whilst-wit-is-not/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents that he understands their arguments, and sympathies with their just feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-first-duty-of-a-wise-advocate-is-to-convince-his-opponents-that/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/and-the-devil-did-grin-for-his-darling-sin-is-pride-that-apes-humility/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Facts are not truths; they are not conclusions; they are not even premises, but in the nature and parts of premises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/facts-are-not-truths-they-are-not-conclusions-they-are-not-even/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [I do not wish you to act from these truths; no, still and always act from your feelings; only meditate often on these truths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/i-do-not-wish-you-to-act-from-these-truths-no-still-and-always-act/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [A poet ought not to pick nature's pocket. Let him borrow, and so borrow as to repay by the very act of borrowing. Examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/a-poet-ought-not-to-pick-nature-s-pocket-let-him-borrow-and-so-borrow/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [With no other privilege than that of sympathy and sincere good wishes, I would address an affectionate exhortation to the youthful literati, grounded on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/with-no-other-privilege-than-that-of-sympathy-and-sincere-good-wishes/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Ignorance seldom vaults into knowledge...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/ignorance-seldom-vaults-into-knowledge/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee, Whether the summer clothe the general earth With greenness, or the redbreast sit and sing Betwixt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/therefore-all-seasons-shall-be-sweet-to-thee-whether-the-summer/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Why are not more gems from our great authors scattered over the country? Great books are not in everybody's reach; and though it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/why-are-not-more-gems-from-our-great-authors-scattered-over-the/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Life went a-maying With Nature, Hope, and Poesy, When I was young!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/life-went-a-maying-with-nature-hope-and-poesy-when-i-was-young/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [No voice; but oh - the silence sank Like music on my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/no-voice-but-oh-the-silence-sank-like-music-on-my-heart/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The three great ends which a statesman ought to propose to himself in the government of a nation, are 1. Security to possessors; 2.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-three-great-ends-which-a-statesman-ought-to-propose-to-himself-in/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“We in ourselves rejoice! And thence flows all that charms or ear or sight, All melodies the echoes of that voice, All colours a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/we-in-ourselves-rejoice-and-thence-flows-all-that-charms-or-ear-or/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) [Explore all 570 Samuel Taylor Coleridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. 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They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Words in prose ought to express the intended meaning; if they attract attention to themselves, it is a fault; in the very best styles you read page after page without noticing the medium. 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