John Maynard Keynes — Words ought to be a little wild, for they are the assault of thoughts on the unthinking.
Words ought to be a little wild, for they are the assault of thoughts on the unthinking.John Maynard Keynes
Keynes, 'National Self-Sufficiency' (1933)
Keynes wanted words with an edge — language lively enough to wake a sleeping mind. Too tame, and they slide past unnoticed; a little wild, and they land.
As you grow in English, collect the vivid words, not just the correct ones. A precise, slightly daring word does more work than three safe ones, and it makes people actually listen.
Words that widen the world
Not tame or controlled; free and full of energy.
Synonyms: untamed, bold, vivid
He chose a wilder, more vivid word.
A vigorous or determined attack.
Synonyms: attack, charge, onslaught
A good metaphor is a gentle assault on a lazy mind.
Common questions
He means language should be vivid and a little daring, because striking words are what break through to people who aren't really paying attention.
It's a nudge to learn expressive, vivid vocabulary — not just correct words — so your English actually holds attention.
Carry it with you
In your own words, what does this thought mean to you? Write three or four sentences in English about a moment when it felt true — saying it yourself is how it stays with you.
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