Those who write clearly have readers, those who write obscurely have commentators.
Interpretation
Clear writing attracts readers, while unclear writing draws commentary without comprehension.
This quote by Albert Camus suggests that clarity in writing is essential for effective communication. When a writer expresses their ideas transparently, they engage readers who can easily understand and appreciate the content. Conversely, obscure or convoluted writing may elicit commentary and interpretation from others, but often the essence of the message is lost, and the writer's original intent remains unclear.
In practice
A speaker might use this quote to emphasize the importance of clear communication during a conference on writing.
The Poor Man whom everyone speaks of, the Poor Man whom everyone pities, one of the repulsive Poor from whom charitable souls keep their distance, he has still said nothing. Or, rather, he has spoken through the voice of Victor Hugo, Zola, Richepin. At least, they said so. And these shameful impostures fed their authors. Cruel irony, the Poor Man tormented with hunger feeds those who plead his case.
The certainty of a God giving meaning to life far surpasses in attractiveness the ability to behave badly with impunity. The choice would not be hard to make. But there is no choice and that is where the bitterness comes in. The absurd does not liberate; it binds.
Between history and the eternal I have chosen history because I like certainties. Of it, at least, I am certain, and how can I deny this force crushing me.
Don't wait for the last judgment - it takes place every day.
A single sentence will suffice for modern man. He fornicated and read the papers. After that vigorous definition, the subject will be, if I may say so, exhausted.
At times I feel myself overtaken by an immense tenderness for these people around me who live in the same century.
Those who fail to learn from the brutal stompings visited on them in the past are doomed to be brutally stomped in the future.
I suppose the thing I most would have liked to have known or been reassured about is that in the world, what counts more than talent, what counts more than energy or concentration or commitment, or anything else - is kindness. And the more in the world that you encounter kindness and cheerfulness - which is its kind of amiable uncle or aunt - the better the world always is. And all the big words: virtue, justice, truth - are dwarfed by the greatness of kindness.
The enlarging of the soul requires not only some remodeling, but some excavating.
The fact to which we have got to cling, as to a lifebelt, is that it is possible to be a normal decent person and yet be fully alive.
Do not keep saying to yourself, if you can possibly avoid it, 'But how can it be like that?' because you will get 'down the drain,' into a blind alley from which nobody has yet escaped. Nobody knows how it can be like that.
No man was ever great by imitation.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.