Brevity is the Soul of Wit

Eddy   Fri May 22, 2009 2:52 am GMT
What can you say about this quotation?
blanc   Fri May 22, 2009 3:14 am GMT
It's brief but it isn't particularly witty, so it must be false.
Robin Michael   Fri May 22, 2009 6:01 am GMT
My English teacher used to talk about 'unpacking' poetry - prose etc in order to extract the meaning.

In order to understand this expression, you have to understand three words, brevity, soul and wit.

Soul - the essence

Wit - humour, clever remarks

brevity - quick, short, pithy


The essence of humour is its elegant expression.


Historically, there were characters known as 'wits' at court, or in society, who would make clever remarks, and be 'good company'. Such people would not be 'long winded'. They would say things that were observant and clever.

One of my favourite 'social commentators' is 'The Times' 'Columinist' 'Matthew Parris'.

He is very funny, and writes an interesting article. He would be the sort of journalist that Damian would aspire to be.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/


"Why I've always been nuts about Hazel "

An article about the cabinet minister - Hazel Blears

"Don't underestimate the Salford Sparrow."

He is very funny - he is describing her as a 'sparrow' - a small bird.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article6236572.ece


His descriptions are very funny and accurate:

"Yesterday the perky, petite and relentlessly blithe Ms Blears "

"a determined, artfully unideological and slyly partisan shin-kicker."



SHORT AND MEMORABLE

See who he is describing 'Hazel Blears' on Youtube.


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x97zyq_labour-mp-hazel-blears-on-mps-expen_news
Eddy   Sat May 23, 2009 6:53 am GMT
I was told that it is William Shakespeare's quote and it's from "Hamlet"
MrPedantic   Sun May 24, 2009 2:53 pm GMT
<Hamlet>

Yes; it occurs in a speech by the unbrief, unwitty Polonius:

1. Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief.

Coleridge's epigram on epigrams is closer to the usual interpretation of the saying:

2. What is an epigram? A dwarfish whole;
Its body brevity, and wit its soul.

MrP