‘Brevity
is the soul of wit’
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the words are spoken by Polonius, whose
various advices are often quoted by orators. However, the above quote is ironic
in the context of the play, as Polonius is anything but brief in his long
winded speeches. Hence, while it is an impressive line, its real worth eludes
its own articulator.
The line implies that to be better at intelligent communication,
we must go straight to the point and not beat around the bush. Being brief is
an important aspect in today’s fast paced world. By being brief, our
communication becomes better focussed and we create a better impact akin to
hitting Bull’s eye.
However, we feel that to be impressive, abundance is a must. Indeed,
when orators are asked to speak for three minutes, they wonder how it is
possible to make an impact in such constratined duration. But it is pertinent
to remember that Abraham Lincoln’ famous Gettysburg speech was just over two
minutes as it included just ten lines.
Effective film makers are those who have the courage to edit and
leave out the unnecessary, even if they are excellent shots. Ditto for
effective orators, writers, communicators... Brevity comes with the courage and
conviction to avoid the unnecessary and focus just on essentials.
Let’s
BE BETTER at using words with rarity...
And make
an expressive impact with brevity!
- Pravin K. Sabnis
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