A gap between the reader and text’s assumption


If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way False accusation is worse than backbiting. It is to falsely attribute a deficiency or an offence to a believing person. It is certain that this transgression is the most wicked of attacks upon the prestige of a believer.

A shrewd writer constructs a shield 
·        If there is always a gap between the reader and the text’s assumptions, there is always an opportunity to make readers accept specific assumption. The best defense of a writer, if he is pulled apart for selling unacceptable assumption, is that readers have picked unintended meanings.

·        If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way. Mark Twain

·        There are some things that can beat smartness and foresight? Awkwardness and stupidity can. The best swordsman in the world doesn't need to fear the second best swordsman in the world; no, the person for him to be afraid of is some ignorant antagonist who has never had a sword in his hand before; he doesn't do the thing he ought to do, and so the expert isn't prepared for him; he does the thing he ought not to do; and often it catches the expert out and ends him on the spot.
·        Either way, you will learn from experience that it's not recommended! 

The idea is that experience is the best teacher.

·        I've seen these two versions of the quote:
If you hold a cat by the tail, you learn things that cannot be learned in any other way. 
If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way.

To me, it means that experience is the best teacher: hold a cat by the tail and you'll get the claws. When you do, you will have learned (and remembered) more than you would have if someone just told you what would happen.

Comments