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About this quote

What does it mean?
Learning to observe carefully and write clearly is very difficult.
In plain terms
Observing well and writing simply is hard to master.
What can you take from it?
Practice clear observation and concise writing.

Where it applies

  • writing
  • research
  • reporting

Putting it to work

  • keep clear notes
  • train observation
  • simplify reports

Questions to consider

  • How clear are your notes?
  • What makes observation hard?

Another view

Some observations require detail over brevity.

More from William Osler

  1. There are three classes of human beings: men, women and women physicians.

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  2. To have striven, to have made the effort, to have been true to certain ideals - this alone is worth the struggle.

    Permalink to quote #20
  3. The desire to take medicine is perhaps the greatest feature which distinguishes man from animals.

    Permalink to quote #17

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