In the dying world I come from, quotation is a national vice. No one would think of making an after-dinner speech without the help of poetry. It used to be the classics, now it's lyric verse.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Waugh criticizes the overreliance on poetic quotations in social settings, suggesting it has become a pretentious habit rather than genuine expression.
- In plain terms
- Using poetry quotes is now a common bad habit at parties.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid relying on quotes to make your speech sound better.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does quoting enhance communication?
- Is it always pretentious to quote?
Another view
Some contexts still benefit from literary references.
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