The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
Long human words (the longer the better) were easy, unmistakable, and rarely changed their meanings . . . but short words were slippery, unpredictable, changing their meanings without any pattern.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Long words have stable meanings, while short words can be ambiguous and changeable.
In this quote, Robert A. Heinlein discusses the nature of language, specifically contrasting long and short words. He suggests that longer words tend to have more fixed meanings, making them clearer and more reliable in communication, whereas shorter words can be nebulous and subject to varying interpretations, leading to potential misunderstandings among speakers and listeners.
Themes
LanguageWordsMeaningCommunicationAmbiguity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on the importance of clarity in communication, one might quote Heinlein to emphasize how short words can lead to misunderstandings.
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A competent and self-confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom of neurotic insecurity.
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