When Croft's 'Life of Dr. Young' was spoken of as a good imitation of Dr. Johnson's style, 'No, no,' said he, 'it is not a good imitation of Johnson; it has all his pomp without his force; it has all the nodosities of the oak, without its strength; it has all the contortions of the sibyl, without the inspiration.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Style without substance or power is a poor imitation.
- In plain terms
- Copying looks good but fails without real strength.
- What can you take from it?
- Substance matters more than style.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does style count?
- How to balance form and function?
Another view
Style alone often matters in public life.
More from Edmund Burke
A very great part of the mischiefs that vex the world arises from words.
Permalink to quote #40 The art of substantiating shadows, and of lending existence to nothing.
Permalink to quote #42 Turn over a new leaf.
Permalink to quote #39
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