In his Philosophy of Style, Herbert Spencer gives two sentences to illustrate how the vague and general can be turned into the vivid and particular: In proportion as the manners, customs, and amusements of a nation are cruel and barbarous, the regulations of its penal code will be severe. In proportion as men delight in battles, bullfights, and combats of gladiators, will they punish by hanging, burning, and the rack.

A drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.

Rich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating.

If you don't know how to pronounce a word, say it loud!

Vigorous writing is concise.

The surest way to arouse and hold the attention of the reader is by being specific, definitive, and concrete. The greatest writers - Homer, Dante, Shakespeare - are effective largely because they deal in particulars and report the details that matter. Their words call up pictures.

None are so fallible as those who are sure they're right.