Would you convey my compliments to the purist who reads your proofs and tell him or her that I write in a sort of broken-down patois which is something like the way a Swiss waiter talks, and that when I split an infinitive, God damn it, I split it so it will stay split, and when I interrupt the velvety smoothness of my more or less literate syntax with a few sudden words of bar-room vernacular, that is done with the eyes wide open and the mind relaxed but attentive.

Summary

In this quote, the author is acknowledging their writing style and addressing it to the perfectionist who reviews their work. They describe their writing as a broken-down patois, resembling the way a Swiss waiter speaks. The author unapologetically explains their tendency to split infinitives and mix in casual language, emphasizing their deliberate intention to create this contrast. They assure the reader that these choices are made intentionally and with an open, relaxed, yet attentive mindset.

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