It is a singular blessing, that nature has form'd the mind of man with the same happy backwardsness and renitency against conviction, which is observed in old dogs, - "of not learning new tricks". (Sterne, Tristram Shandy)
Consider the ways in which this quotation has been incorporated into an essay in each of the five examples below, including the alterations which have been made (including paraphrase), and the advantages or disadvantages in each.
Example 1:
Sterne argues that mankind is inherently ill-suited to change: '[i]t is a singular blessing, that nature has form'd the mind of man with the same happy backwardsness and renitency against conviction, which is observ'd in old dogs, - "of not learning new tricks"'. His reference to proverbial wisdom illustrates his point, suggesting mankind's affection for familiar and well-worn phrases.
Feedback:
The writer makes their point in the opening statement, preparing the reader to view the quotation in the light of this. More detailed interpretation follows the full quotation, offering enough context for close, detailed analysis. The tone is slower and more formal. Be cautious about altering an original text, even at the level of punctuation or syntax.
Example 2:
'It is a singular blessing', Sterne writes, 'that nature has form'd the mind of man with the same happy backwardsness and renitency against conviction, which is observed in old dogs, - "of not learning new tricks"'. Here he argues that mankind is inherently ill-suited to change. His reference to proverbial wisdom illustrates this point, suggesting mankind's affection for familiar and well-worn phrases.
Feedback:
The quotation is here introduced at the beginning, which lends immediacy and pace, and a less formal tone. The writer has had to interpolate Sterne's name to give the quotation some context. The point is not made until afterwards, which may mean that the interpretation has to be fairly quick, or main points may be lost.
Example 3:
Sterne's obervation that the mind of man is defined by 'backwardsness and renitency against conviction' allows him to prove that mankind is inherently ill-suited to change. By comparing them to the 'old dogs' of the proverb, who are unable to learn 'new tricks', he demonstrates mankind's affection for familiar and well-worn phrases.
Feedback:
Here, the quotation is broken up and integrated into the sentence structure of the writer. The pace is quick, which may be suitable for illustrative points which you want to address briefly before moving on. Be cautious about altering an original text, even at the level of punctuation or syntax.
Example 4:
Throughout Tristram Shandy, Sterne argues that mankind is inherently ill-suited to change.
'It is a singular blessing, that nature has form'd the mind of man with the same happy backwardsness and renitency against conviction, which is observed in old dogs, - "of not learning new tricks".
Here his reference to proverbial wisdom illustrates his point, suggesting mankind's affection for familiar and well-worn phrases.
Feedback:
The opening statement makes a general point about Tristram Shandy, and then offers the quotation as an example of this. The tone is formal and slow, although the quotation itself is not dealt with in depth here. This method may be suitable for close, detailed analysis and coursework essays.
Example 5:
Sterne argues that mankind is inherently ill-suited to change, writing, in the third volume, that '[i]t is a singular blessing, that nature has form'd the mind of man with the same happy backwardsness and renitency against conviction, which is observed in old dogs, - "of not learning new tricks"'. His reference to proverbial wisdom illustrates his point, suggesting mankind's affection for familiar and well-word phrases.
Feedback:
The quotation is contextualised at length at the beginning, and is then incorporated into the rest of the sentence. It is not given prominence here, as in the other examples. Be cautious about altering an original text, even at the level of punctuation or syntax.