Originality

Use in the book

The passage on naked ideas places a limit on expressive originality: some ideas need only clarity, and grandeur, energy or originality of wording adds almost nothing to their effect. This is not a denial that expression matters elsewhere. The warning about original writers concerns the audience’s imitation of their temperament; the exception requires readers to understand, from the writers themselves, that they should not imitate them. Another note asks that good disposition, the “good-nature” of originality, prevail over fashionable judgment. Finally the manner classification calls a natural manner originality, distinguishing it both from involuntary tic and from contrived jargon. The family thus joins individuality to limits on its authority as a model.

Places to read

1. I, p. 198, entry 9, ¶1Originality of expression can add little to already beautiful ideas.
2. I, p. 372, entry 1, ¶1Original writers require readers who know not to imitate them.
3. I, p. 377, entry 5, ¶4Good-natured originality is preferred to fashionable judgment.
4. I, p. 474, entry 1, ¶1Natural manner is called originality.

Translation in this edition

The English translation retains originality and the English borrowing good-nature already present in the French. Brk and the source editor’s [Berkeley] remain separate, and the attributed remark is not independently verified. “Almost nothing” is preserved; the passage does not claim expressive originality never matters.