[13]
Consequently, there are
many who, after excerpting certain words from
published speeches or borrowing certain particular
rhythms, think that they have produced a perfect
copy of the works which they have read, despite
the fact that words become obsolete or current
with the lapse of years, the one sure standard being
contemporary usage; and they are not good or
bad in virtue of their inherent nature (for in themselves they are no more than mere sounds), but
solely in virtue of the aptitude and propriety (or
the reverse) with which they are arranged, while
rhythmical composition must be adapted to the
theme in hand and will derive its main charm from
its variety.
Quintilian. With An English Translation. Harold Edgeworth Butler. Cambridge. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1922.
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