Art Quote by Virginia Woolf
““And so they would go on talking or rather, understanding, which has become the main art of speech in an age when words are growing daily so scanty in comparison with ideas that ‘the biscuits ran out’ has to stand for kissing a negress in the dark when one has just read Bishop Berkeley’s philosophy for the tenth time. (And from this it follows that only the most profound masters of style can tell the truth, and when one meets a simple one–syllable writer, one may conclude, without any doubt at all, that the poor man is lying.)””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Mrs Dalloway, 1925
Language struggles to capture expanding ideas, making style a crucial tool for truth, while simplistic writing may conceal falsehoods.
In simple terms: Words can’t keep up with ideas; style matters.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate precise, nuanced expression.
Themes
language
style
truth
communication
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- creative writing
- public speaking
- media analysis
Key Concepts
modernism
literary criticism
philosophy of language
Questions to Reflect On
- How does style affect perceived truth?
- When is simplicity a virtue?
A Different Perspective
Simple prose can be deceptive, not necessarily honest.
