Eye Quote by William Makepeace Thackeray
“One tires of a page of which every sentence sparkles with points, of a sentimentalist who is always pumping the tears from his eyes or your own.”
About This Quote
Overly ornate or sentimental writing can become exhausting, as it distracts from substance and forces readers into emotional manipulation.
In simple terms: Excessive sparkle and sentiment wear out the reader.
Key Takeaway
Style should serve, not overwhelm, content.
Themes
writing style
sentimentality
aesthetic fatigue
literary criticism
Mood
critical
wry
analytical
Type
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- reading a melodramatic novel
- watching a hyper‑emotional advertisement
- listening to a speech full of clichés
Key Concepts
balance between form and function
Practical Applications
- edit for clarity and restraint
- focus on authentic emotion
Questions to Reflect On
- When does embellishment enhance a narrative?
- How can you recognize when sentiment becomes manipulative?
![“Very often, those who express concern about (or even interest in) the conditions in which farmed animals are raised are disregarded as sentimentalists. But it’s worth taking a step back to ask who is the sentimentalist and who is the realist. […] Two friends are ordering lunch. One says, “I’m in…” quote by Jonathon Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/61d/jonathon-safran-foer-63650_sentimentalism_very-often-those-who-express-concern-abo_202760.jpg)
