The Art and Power of Brevity for Authors From: a Shorter Letter.â â Most authors know the famous adage, âBrevity is the soul of wit.â This saying is from Shakespeareâs Hamlet and is, ironically, delivered by the exceedingly longwinded character Polonius. Brevity, simply defined, is shortness or conciseness of expression. While brevity is often an essential part of wit or humor, it is also a necessary tool which writers must master. In an age where attention spans are under siege from competing information streams, skillful and brief communication can cut through the noise and capture the attention of the listener.