Books · 1738
The secret of being a bore is to tell everything.
— Voltaire · Sept Discours en Vers sur l'Homme
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
Voltaire suggests that tedium comes from refusing to choose. A bore leaves nothing out, pouring every detail onto the listener, whereas an interesting speaker selects and lets some things go unsaid. Completeness, in this view, is the enemy of good company.
Context reviewed