Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- When editing, remove passages you think are especially good.
- In plain terms
- Delete the best parts when revising.
- What can you take from it?
- Self‑editing should trim even strong sections for clarity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What balance should be struck between polish and loss?
- When is a passage too good to cut?
Another view
Removing good parts can weaken impact if overdone.
More from Samuel Johnson
A cow is a very good animal in the field; but we turn her out of a garden.
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