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."
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Style is the perfection of a point of view
Style is the perfection of a point of view
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 a magic wand, and turns everything to gold that it touches
Style is a magic wand, and turns everything to gold that it touches
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.
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.
Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style.
Amaze th' learn'd, and make the learned smile.
Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style.
Amaze th' learn'd, and make the learned smile.
All styles are good except the tiresome kind.
[Fr., Tous les genres sont bons, hors le genre ennuyeux.]
All styles are good except the tiresome kind.
[Fr., Tous les genres sont bons, hors le genre ennuyeux.]
Style is the mind skating circles around itself as it moves forward
Style is the mind skating circles around itself as it moves forward
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),
