Those who write clearly have readers, those who write obscurely have commentators.
Interpretation
Clear writing attracts readers, while unclear writing draws commentary without comprehension.
This quote by Albert Camus suggests that clarity in writing is essential for effective communication. When a writer expresses their ideas transparently, they engage readers who can easily understand and appreciate the content. Conversely, obscure or convoluted writing may elicit commentary and interpretation from others, but often the essence of the message is lost, and the writer's original intent remains unclear.
In practice
A speaker might use this quote to emphasize the importance of clear communication during a conference on writing.
The Poor Man whom everyone speaks of, the Poor Man whom everyone pities, one of the repulsive Poor from whom charitable souls keep their distance, he has still said nothing. Or, rather, he has spoken through the voice of Victor Hugo, Zola, Richepin. At least, they said so. And these shameful impostures fed their authors. Cruel irony, the Poor Man tormented with hunger feeds those who plead his case.
The certainty of a God giving meaning to life far surpasses in attractiveness the ability to behave badly with impunity. The choice would not be hard to make. But there is no choice and that is where the bitterness comes in. The absurd does not liberate; it binds.
Between history and the eternal I have chosen history because I like certainties. Of it, at least, I am certain, and how can I deny this force crushing me.
Don't wait for the last judgment - it takes place every day.
A single sentence will suffice for modern man. He fornicated and read the papers. After that vigorous definition, the subject will be, if I may say so, exhausted.
At times I feel myself overtaken by an immense tenderness for these people around me who live in the same century.
There is nothing more difficult than tactical maneuvering. The difficult consists in turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain. Thus, to take a long and circuitous route after enticing the enemy out of the way, and though starting after him to contrive to reach the goal before him, shows knowledge of the artifice of deviation.
Nothing can temper the spirit of a warrior as much as the challenge of dealing with impossible people in positions of power. Only under those conditions can warriors acquire the sobriety and serenity to withstand the pressure of the unknowable.
Drive a nail home and clinch it so faithfully that you can wake up in the night and think of your work with satisfaction - a work at which you would not be ashamed to invoke the muse.
A sure way of retaining the grace of heaven is to disregard outward appearances, and diligently to cultivate such things as foster amendment of life and fervour of soul, rather than to cultivate those qualities that seem most popular.
What I learned from Mel Brooks was audacity - in performance as in life. Maybe you go too far, but try it.
Itβs possible, Iβm moving through the hard veins of heavy mountains, like an arc, alone; Iβm so deep inside, I see no end in sight, and no distance: everything is getting near and everything near is turning to stone.
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