It is by all odds the loftiest of cities. It even managed to reach the highest point in the sky at the lowest moment of the depression.
E. B. WhiteRead
The young writer should learn to spot them: words that at first glance seem freighted with delicious meaning, but that soon burst in the air, leaving nothing but a memory of bright sound.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writers must identify words that seem significant but ultimately lack depth.
E. B. White emphasizes the importance for young writers to discern between words that initially seem rich in meaning but are, in reality, ephemeral and lack lasting substance. This quote serves as a reminder that not all words carry the weight we expect, and writers should be mindful of their language to create lasting impact rather than momentary illusions.
Themes
WritingWordsMeaningLanguageLiterature
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop focusing on developing skills, this quote can highlight the importance of word choice.
More from E. B. White
All quotes →It isn't silence you can cut with a knife any more, it's interchange of ideas. Intelligent discussion of practically everything is what is breaking up modern marriage.
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The main thing I try to do is write as clearly as I can. Because I have the greatest respect for the reader, and if he's going to the trouble of reading what I've written -- I'm a slow reader myself and I guess most people are -- why, the least I can do is make it as easy as possible for him to find out what I'm trying to say, trying to get at. I rewrite a good deal to make it clear.
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A good farmer is nothing more nor less than a handy man with a sense of humus.
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A despot doesn't fear eloquent writers preaching freedom- he fears a drunken poet who may crack a joke that will take hold.
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All writing is communication; creative writing is communication through revelation-it is the Self-escaping into the open.
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