Quote by Samuel Johnson, Lives of the Poe

Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.

Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not

Summary

This quote suggests that if one desires to acquire a good command over the English language, with a style that is both familiar and refined, they should dedicate their time to reading the works of Joseph Addison. By immersing oneself in Addison's writings, one can gain a deep understanding of how to express ideas in a way that is approachable yet sophisticated, avoiding coarseness and unnecessary extravagance. In other words, studying Addison's volumes can serve as a valuable tool to develop an elegant and well-crafted English style of writing or speaking.

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By Samuel Johnson, Lives of the Poe

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