Communication Quote by William MacLeod Raine
““Both were men who knew the frontier code and each other. At a time of action speech, beyond the curtest of monosyllables, was surplusage.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Frontier Tales, 1910
Frontier men valued concise, direct speech; elaborate language was unnecessary.
In simple terms: Simple speech was prized on the frontier.
Key Takeaway
Embrace clarity over verbosity.
Themes
communication
history
culture
Mood
thoughtful
historical
Type
explanatory
inspirational
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- writing workshops
- historical reenactments
Key Concepts
frontier ethos
linguistic economy
Questions to Reflect On
- When is brevity more effective than detail?
- How does audience affect speech style?
A Different Perspective
Modern contexts may demand more nuance.
![“Well, Bill [Bill Hickok] was a pretty good shot. But he could not shoot as quick as half a dozen men we all knew in those days, nor as straight either. But Bill was cool, and the men who he went up against were rattled, I guess. Bill beat them to it. He made up his mind to kill the other man…” quote by Buffalo Bill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e9c/buffalo-bill-11793_beats_well-bill-bill-hickok-was-a-pretty-good_381801.jpg)
