lyhyestä virsi kaunis

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Finnish

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Etymology

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Literally, out of brevity, [comes] a beautiful song. The traditional proverb is used in the Kalevala (1835), but its further history is unclear.

Proverb

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lyhyestä virsi kaunis

  1. brevity is the soul of wit (conciseness of expression is an essential characteristic of astute, perceptive, or witty remarks)
    • 1888 [1835], trad., translated by John Martin Crawford, edited by Elias Lönnrot, Kalevala, poem XII:
      Hyvä on laulu loppuvasta, lyhyestä virsi kaunis
      Fine the singing quickly ending, Good the song that quickly ceases