The greatest sentence

The greatest sentence

I was in the mood to argue with ChatGBT, so I asked it to name the greatest sentence in the English language. Disregarding my instructions, like any good writer, It gave me a few choices. I found nothing in its answer to argue with, though I think it failed to name one of the great sentences in the English language. More on that toward the end. Here's what it said:

"The greatest sentence in the English language is highly subjective and depends on the criteria used to judge it. Different people may consider a sentence great for various reasons, such as its literary beauty, philosophical depth, emotional impact, or historical significance. Here are a few contenders, each representing different facets of greatness:

  1. Literary Beauty: From "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville. "Call me Ishmael." This simple yet iconic opening line sets the tone for Melville's epic novel and has been celebrated for its brevity and intrigue.
  2. Philosophical Depth: From "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius: "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts." Though not originally written in English, this translation captures profound wisdom in a succinct manner.
  3. Emotional Impact: From "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: "You never really understand a person until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." This sentence encapsulates the novel's central theme of empathy and understanding.
  4. Historical Significance: From Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: "Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." This sentence from Lincoln's speech highlights the democratic ideals at the heart of American identity.
  5. Scientific Importance: From Isaac Newton's Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy: "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." This statement, often quoted to emphasize the cumulative nature of scientific progress, is both humble and profound.

My choice?

"Go."

It may not be lyrical or John Prine at his best ("There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes") but it's short, action-oriented, cannot be misunderstood and, arguably, quite aspirational.

Wayne Goodman

President at Wayne Goodman Design, LLC

5 个月

I like "...how many times must a man look up before he can see the sky?" - Dylan

Rob Laymon

Master Wordsmith, Storyteller, Detail-Obsessed Writer and Editor

5 个月

One of my favorites: There was a brief tornado of murky blasphemy, with a confused and frantic war-dance glimmering through it, and then all was over.

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Margaret Battistelli Gardner

Writer. Rebel storyteller. Journalist. Communications and engagement specialist.

5 个月

"There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes." This lyric has haunted me since the first time I heard it way back in the early '80s. "Sam Stone" gets my vote for one of the saddest songs ever written.

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