The Five Virtues of a Good Writer

The great journalist and author Henry Hazlitt (1894-1993) offered the following excellent advice to writers:

The reader who seeks to write well and think well should aim first at the essential qualities-coherence, clarity, precision, simplicity, and brevity. Euphony and rhythm are of course also desirable, but they are like the final rubbing on a fine piece of furniture-finishing touches justified only if the piece has been soundly made. As a method of procedure, the apprentice writer may often find it advisable first of all to root out his faults. He should try to acquire the Five Virtues of Coherence, Clarity, Precision, Simplicity, and Brevity by vigilant abstention from the Five Vices of Incoherence, Obscurity, Vagueness, Pedantry, and Circumlocution."

Here are elaborations of each virtue and corresponding vice: