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."

Style is the dress of thoughts.
- Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth Earl of Chesterfield,

Style is the dress of thoughts.
- Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth Earl of Chesterfield,

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.]

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

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.

"Style" is an expression of individualism mixed with charisma. Fashion is something that comes after style.

"Style" is an expression of individualism mixed with charisma. Fashion is something that comes after style.

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.

Expression is the dress of thought, and still
Appears more decent as more suitable;
A vile conceit read more

Expression is the dress of thought, and still
Appears more decent as more suitable;
A vile conceit in pompous words express'd,
Is like a clown in regal purple dress'd.

Neat, not gaudy.

Neat, not gaudy.