Body Quote by William Cowper
“A tale should be judicious, clear, succinct; The language plain, and incidents well link'd; Tell not as new what ev'ry body knows; and, new or old, still hasten to a close.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Task, 1785
A good story must be wise, clear, concise, using plain language and well‑linked events, avoiding unnecessary novelty, and ending promptly.
In simple terms: Stories should be clear, concise, and end well.
Key Takeaway
Write clearly and finish promptly.
Themes
writing
clarity
conciseness
structure
editing
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
instructional
literary
When to use this quote
- teaching
- public speaking
- writing workshops
- content creation
Key Concepts
Narrative craft
literary style
communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance detail with brevity?
- When is a longer narrative more effective?
A Different Perspective
May sacrifice depth for brevity.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
