Thought for the day

I heard this utterance

From a rarefied height of eloquence

A true thing badly expressed is a lie.

Instantly I liked it

Instantly I wanted to improve the way I expressed things I believe to be true

And then reflex gave way to reflection

The utterance smacked of elitism

A true thing will always be true

If its substance is conveyed

Truth is never the exclusive domain of the eloquent

That utterance only applies a veneer of arrogance

Far from turning truth into a lie

It reminds me of some other notable truths

Eloquence and inspiration are not bedfellows

Neither are eloquence and insight

Nor even eloquence and intelligence

Now if eloquence and humility travelled together

As they surely can

That utterance would never have been made

Those fortunate enough to aspire to eloquence

Are on a fool’s errand

If they think

That that aspiration will endow them

With intelligence, insight and inspiration

I prefer this utterance

A lie eloquently expressed is still a lie