The grand secret of good writing seems to be in this very simple maxim: Be sure you have an idea before you attempt to express it. If you clearly comprehend in your own mind what you wish to communicate, nature and reason, together with a little practice, will most certainly teach you how to say it in an appropriate manner. A single idea is fully sufficient for one mind to manage at one time. And it may be added that if the idea is of much importance, it would be the most dignified by being honored with a private carriage. Divide and conquer; is as valuable a rule in literary as in military tactics. The more extensive the theme which the writer proposes to himself to discuss, the less, usually, he has to say upon it. Some subjects can be mastered with ease only by descending from generals to particulars, and treating of the subjects in their individual parts. There is nothing more popular, especially with young writers, than brilliancy of style. This manner of writing is certainly excellent in its proper place, but there are many topics which do not require this quality, and many are much injured by it. The language of every dissertation should be that which is best calculated to express the thoughts in the happiest manner. As the rays of the sun will not kindle a blaze unless brought to a focus, so the thoughts of the writer will not set the hearts of his readers on fire, unless all are made to converge to a single point. Some writers seem unable to express themselves in a cool, rational manner on any subject. With them every virtue is God-like, every fault villainy, every breeze a tempest, every mole-hill a mountain. They appear to think their manner of writing is sublime; but their judicious readers (if they have any such) call it tragidity and absurdity. The design of language is to give expression to thought—that style of writing, therefore, must necessarily be the best which most perfectly conveys to the reader's mind what the writer intended he should understand.—Goethe.