Style is a magic wand, and turns everything to gold that it touches

Style is a magic wand, and turns everything to gold that it touches

Style! style! why, all writers will tell you that it is the very
thing which can least of all read more

Style! style! why, all writers will tell you that it is the very
thing which can least of all be changed. A man's style is nearly
as much a part of him as his physiognomy, his figure, the
throbbing of this pulse,--in short, as any part of his being is
at least subjected to the action of the will.

For style beyond the genius never dares.
[Fr., Che stilo oltra l'ingegno non si stende.]

For style beyond the genius never dares.
[Fr., Che stilo oltra l'ingegno non si stende.]

Style is a simple way of saying complicated things

Style is a simple way of saying complicated things

Obscurity is the realm of error.
[Fr., L'obscurite est le royaume de l'erreur.]

Obscurity is the realm of error.
[Fr., L'obscurite est le royaume de l'erreur.]

When Croft's "Life of Dr. Young" was spoken of as a good
imitation of Dr. Johnson's style, "No, no," read more

When Croft's "Life of Dr. Young" was spoken of as a good
imitation of Dr. Johnson's style, "No, no," said he, "it is not a
good imitation of Johnson; it has all his pomp without his force;
it has all the nodosities of the oak, without its strength; it
has all the contortions of the sibyl, without the inspiration."

A chaste and lucid style is indicative of the same personal
traits in the author.

A chaste and lucid style is indicative of the same personal
traits in the author.

Fashions fade, style is eternal.

Fashions fade, style is eternal.

And, after all, it is style alone by which posterity will judge
of a great work, for an author read more

And, after all, it is style alone by which posterity will judge
of a great work, for an author can have nothing truly his own but
his style.