The character who says it is long winded.
It means someone misheard the quotation, which is actually "brevity is the soul of wit."
The quotation is this:Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,I will be brief.It comes from the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, and is spoken by the character Polonius.
"Brevity is the soul of wit" is from Lord Polonious' speech in Shakespeare's Hamlet, in Act II, scene ii.
Brevity is the soul of wit
Brevity is the Soul of WitThe proverb 'brevity is the soul of wit' means that articulate and intelligent communication (speech and writing) should use few and wisely chosen words. It is associated with the play 'Hamlet,' by William Shakespeare. In Shakespeare's day, 'wit' principally referred to intelligence, and the essence or soul of being intelligent is to convey your thoughts as briefly and efficiently as possible. Here is the context of the line:LORD POLONIUSThis business is well ended.My liege, and madam, to expostulateWhat majesty should be, what duty is,Why day is day, night night, and time is time,Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,I will be brief: your noble son is mad:Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,What is't but to be nothing else but mad?But let that go.(The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Act 2, scene 2.)It should also be noted that this phrase is very ironic in the context of the play, as Polonius is anything but brief in his long speeches.
It means someone misheard the quotation, which is actually "brevity is the soul of wit."
it means that conciseness forms intelligence, and he is known in the play to give long, rambling speeches, so it comes out as ironic.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
The quotation is this:Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,I will be brief.It comes from the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, and is spoken by the character Polonius.
The line "brevity is the soul of wit" is spoken by Polonius in William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet." The irony lies in the fact that Polonius is known for being long-winded and verbose in his speech and actions, contradicting the very idea of brevity that he espouses.
"Brevity is the soul of wit" is from Lord Polonious' speech in Shakespeare's Hamlet, in Act II, scene ii.
Brevity is the soul of wit
Hamlet, Act 2 Scene 2
Brevity is the Soul of WitThe proverb 'brevity is the soul of wit' means that articulate and intelligent communication (speech and writing) should use few and wisely chosen words. It is associated with the play 'Hamlet,' by William Shakespeare. In Shakespeare's day, 'wit' principally referred to intelligence, and the essence or soul of being intelligent is to convey your thoughts as briefly and efficiently as possible. Here is the context of the line:LORD POLONIUSThis business is well ended.My liege, and madam, to expostulateWhat majesty should be, what duty is,Why day is day, night night, and time is time,Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,I will be brief: your noble son is mad:Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,What is't but to be nothing else but mad?But let that go.(The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Act 2, scene 2.)It should also be noted that this phrase is very ironic in the context of the play, as Polonius is anything but brief in his long speeches.
"Brevity is the soul of wit," and "Out, damned spot! out, I say!" are different quotations from Shakespeare's plays
This quote by Dorothy Parker is a play on Shakespeare's "Brevity is the soul of wit." It suggests that lingerie, like wit, is most effective when it is brief and suggestive, leaving more to the imagination. Essentially, it highlights the power of suggestion and leaving something to be desired.
"Brevity is the soul of wit" is a line from Hamlet, Act 2. It is said by Polonius, and it is ironic because although Polonius is saying that brevity is a virtue, it appears to be a virtue he does not posess. He is incapable of brevity, which by his maxim means he has very little wit.