Good writing
- Cryptic terseness beats verbose and clinical accuracy.
- An economy with words induces and indeeds demands the reader to think.
- A handful of well chosen words carry the power of a punch that will not be forgotten.
- It is easier to remember a few words than many.
Writing
Good writers do not write for good readers, but for good learners. Good learners only read a few pages each day; this gives them more than enough to think about.
Good words are mountain peaks; and the one who reads them must likewise be lofty of stature. He must be accustomed to dangerous heights and cold thin air. He must also be a friend of the sun!
Good words are written slowly and have to be read more slowly still. Even then, the reading of good words is never completed, because their meaning is never exhausted. You can read them over and again, and they will bite like the cold dawn air every time. A cool breeze is pleasant, but these words wake you up! For breakfast these words are milk and cornflakes: no sausages and eggs here. One flies more easily on a light stomach.
And too, one wishes to avoid gluttons. I do not wish to be swallowed by a whale. A person can get from a book only what he already knows. Thus my words will appear meaningless to all but one or two rare individuals.
I will not let cows into my library!