Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.
Alexander PopeRead
Words are like Leaves; and where they most abound, Much Fruit of Sense beneath is rarely found.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Words can be plentiful but often lack substance and deeper meaning.
This quote by Alexander Pope suggests that while many words may be spoken or written, they do not always convey significant thoughts or ideas. It highlights the idea that sheer quantity of words does not equate to quality of communication, and true understanding often lies beneath the surface, obscured by irrelevant or excessive language.
Themes
WordsSubstanceCommunicationMeaningQuality
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about effective communication, I might reference this quote to emphasize the importance of clarity over verbosity.
More from Alexander Pope
All quotes βWhat dire offence from am'rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things.
Alexander PopeRead
Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare; And beauty draws us with a single hair.
Alexander PopeRead
An honest man's the noblest work of God.
Alexander PopeRead
One thought of thee puts all the pomp to flight;_x000D_ _x000D_ Priests, tapers, temples, swim before my sight.
Alexander PopeRead
Who breaks a butterfly on a wheel?
Alexander PopeRead
Similar quotes
By Time and Age full many things are taught.
AeschylusRead
The truth comes as conqueror only because we have lost the art of receiving it as guest.
Rabindranath TagoreRead
There are two modes of acquiring knowledge, namely by reasoning and experience. Reasoning draws a conclusion and makes us grant the conclusion, but does not make the conclusion certain, nor does it remove doubt so that the mind may rest on the intuition of truth, unless the mind discovers it by the path of experience.
Roger BaconRead
There is a courageous wisdom; there is also a false, reptile prudence, the result not of caution but of fear.
Edmund BurkeRead
Money is congealed energy, and releasing it releases life's possibilities.
Joseph CampbellRead
When I grew older and awkward, when my parents divorced and life had gone all to hell, Demetrie stood me at the wardrobe mirror and told me over and over, 'You are beautiful. You are smart. You are important.' It was an incredible gift to give a child who thinks nothing of herself.
Kathryn StockettRead