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
It means someone misheard the quotation, which is actually "brevity is the soul of wit."
The character who says it is long winded.
"Brevity is the soul of wit" is from Lord Polonious' speech in Shakespeare's Hamlet, in Act II, scene ii.
It is self-explanatory. "Brevity" means terseness, saying things with few words. "Wit" is intelligent and clever use of language, although it can also mean just plain intelligence. Saying that something is the soul of something is the same as saying that it is at the heart of that thing, or that it is the essence of that thing. So, the saying could be rephrased (with a less satisfactory rhythm) as "brevity is at the heart of wit" or "brevity is the essence of wit". Therefore what it means is that if you want to speak intelligently you should use just as many words as you need and no more. Of course it says that much more briefly and therefore more intelligently. The irony is that the guy who says this line, Polonius in Hamlet, is notoriously neither brief nor witty.
Brevity is the soul of wit
It means someone misheard the quotation, which is actually "brevity is the soul of wit."
The character who says it is long winded.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
"Brevity is the soul of wit" is from Lord Polonious' speech in Shakespeare's Hamlet, in Act II, scene ii.
Polonius said "Brevity is the soul of wit" in Act 2, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet." This quote emphasizes the value of being concise and precise in communication.
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.
Hamlet, Act 2 Scene 2
"Brevity is the soul of wit," and "Out, damned spot! out, I say!" are different quotations from Shakespeare's plays
It is self-explanatory. "Brevity" means terseness, saying things with few words. "Wit" is intelligent and clever use of language, although it can also mean just plain intelligence. Saying that something is the soul of something is the same as saying that it is at the heart of that thing, or that it is the essence of that thing. So, the saying could be rephrased (with a less satisfactory rhythm) as "brevity is at the heart of wit" or "brevity is the essence of wit". Therefore what it means is that if you want to speak intelligently you should use just as many words as you need and no more. Of course it says that much more briefly and therefore more intelligently. The irony is that the guy who says this line, Polonius in Hamlet, is notoriously neither brief nor witty.
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.