2 Maccabees 2:31

But to use brevity, and avoid much laboring of the work, is to be granted to him that will make an abridgment.

But to use brevity, and avoid much labouring of the work, is to be granted to him that will make an abridgment.

but to strive after brevity of expression, and to avoid a labored fullness in the treatment, is to be granted to him who would bring a writing into a new form.