It is no great art to say something briefly when, like Tacitus, one has something to say when one has nothing to say, however, and none the less writes a whole book and makes truth into a liar - that I call an achievement.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the idea that true achievement lies in the ability to convey important messages even in situations where there may be nothing substantial to say. It acknowledges that brevity is easy when there is something meaningful to communicate, but it takes real skill and ingenuity to fill a whole book with seemingly empty words while still presenting a distorted version of the truth. This highlights the power of manipulation and the deceptive nature of certain works, suggesting that the real achievement lies in the ability to manipulate and mislead readers convincingly.

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