It is the work of fancy to enlarge, but of judgment to shorten and contract and therefore this must be as far above the other as judgment is a greater and nobler faculty than fancy or imagination.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the distinction between fancy and judgment, asserting that judgment is a superior faculty. While fancy allows our imagination to expand and create new ideas, judgment is the ability to critically assess and analyze these ideas, leading to a process of shortening and simplification. In essence, judgment requires the discernment to differentiate between what is important and what is superfluous, resulting in a more refined and superior outcome. Therefore, this quote suggests that judgment holds a higher importance and nobility than mere fancy or imagination.

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