What does this quote mean? | Miscellany

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#213930 - 01/11/14 10:40 AM What does this quote mean?
momi1234 stranger Registered: 10/29/13 Posts: 12	OBSOLETE, adj. No longer used by the timid. Said chiefly of words. A word which some lexicographer has marked obsolete is ever thereafter an object of dread and loathing to the fool writer, but if it is a good word and has no exact modern equivalent equally good, it is good enough for the good writer. Indeed, a writer's attitude toward "obsolete" words is as true a measure of his literary ability as anything except the character of his work. A dictionary of obsolete and obsolescent words would not only be singularly rich in strong and sweet parts of speech; it would add large possessions to the vocabulary of every competent writer who might not happen to be a competent reader. What do you think it means? This is from the Devil's dictionary. Especially the last sentence.
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#213931 - 01/11/14 11:20 AM Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: momi1234]
tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Registered: 04/03/00 Posts: 10538 Loc: this too shall pass	you must have a predilection for irony. here is a bit of good advice that I found: You should use obsolete or archaic words when: 1 No other word will serve (as in a scholarly piece about history or linguistics, for example). 2 You want to confuse your audience or make them laugh. 3 You want to sound pretentious or pedantic. Note: this is hard advice for me to pass on, as I have an entire web site based on obscure, abstruse and/or recondite words, which often run to obsolete and archaic extremes.
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#213935 - 01/11/14 06:29 PM Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: tsuwm]
Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 13803	Ambrose Bierce, author of The Devil's Dictionary, was noted for his acerbic definitions. Another example: Originally Posted By: Ambrose Bierce: The Devil's Dictionary Conservative (n.) A statesman who is enamoured of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.
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#213969 - 01/15/14 04:16 AM Re: What does this quote mean? [Re: momi1234]
momi1234 stranger Registered: 10/29/13 Posts: 12	Thank you.
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