When Croft's "Life of Dr. Young" was spoken of as a good
imitation of Dr. Johnson's style, "No, no," read more

When Croft's "Life of Dr. Young" was spoken of as a good
imitation of Dr. Johnson's style, "No, no," said he, "it is not a
good imitation of Johnson; it has all his pomp without his force;
it has all the nodosities of the oak, without its strength; it
has all the contortions of the sibyl, without the inspiration."

Expression is the dress of thought, and still
Appears more decent as more suitable;
A vile conceit read more

Expression is the dress of thought, and still
Appears more decent as more suitable;
A vile conceit in pompous words express'd,
Is like a clown in regal purple dress'd.

Style is the perfection of a point of view

Style is the perfection of a point of view

The gloomy comparisons of a disturbed imagination, the melancholy
madness of poetry without the inspiration.

The gloomy comparisons of a disturbed imagination, the melancholy
madness of poetry without the inspiration.

Style! style! why, all writers will tell you that it is the very
thing which can least of all read more

Style! style! why, all writers will tell you that it is the very
thing which can least of all be changed. A man's style is nearly
as much a part of him as his physiognomy, his figure, the
throbbing of this pulse,--in short, as any part of his being is
at least subjected to the action of the will.

The flowery style is not unsuitable to public speeches or
addresses, which amount only to compliment. The lighter beauties read more

The flowery style is not unsuitable to public speeches or
addresses, which amount only to compliment. The lighter beauties
are in their place when there is nothing more solid to say; but
the flowery style ought to be banished from a pleading, a sermon,
or a didactic work.
- Voltaire (Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire),

A chaste and lucid style is indicative of the same personal
traits in the author.

A chaste and lucid style is indicative of the same personal
traits in the author.

Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.

Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.

And, after all, it is style alone by which posterity will judge
of a great work, for an author read more

And, after all, it is style alone by which posterity will judge
of a great work, for an author can have nothing truly his own but
his style.