Quote by Henry David Thoreau

A perfectly healthy sentence, it is true, is extremely rare. For the most part we miss the hue and fragrance of the thought; as if we could be satisfied with the dews of the morning or evening without their colors, or the heavens without their azure.

A perfectly healthy sentence, it is true, is extremely rare.

Summary

This quote suggests that finding a sentence that is perfectly well-expressed and meaningful is uncommon. Often, our sentences lack the vibrant essence and clarity of thought. It compares such incomplete sentences to being content with only experiencing the moisture of morning or evening without the accompanying colors, or gazing at the empty heavens without their striking blue color. In essence, the quote emphasizes the importance of conveying thoughts not only accurately but also vividly.

Topics

Writing

By Henry David Thoreau

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