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The Greek language, from the frequency and familiarity of ellipsis,…

Quote byAlexander Fraser Tytler · 1747–1813

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Essay on the Principles of Translation (1791, 2nd edition 1797, 3rd edition 1813), p. 178.

English (original)

The Greek language, from the frequency and familiarity of ellipsis, allows a conciseness of expression which is scarcely attainable in any other tongue, and perhaps least of all in the English. ... The Latin language, too, though in an inferior degree to the Greek, admits of a brevity, which cannot be successfully imitated in the English.

— Alexander Fraser Tytler

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