Base words are uttered only by the base
And can for such at once be understood;
But noble platitudes - ah, there's a case
Where the most careful scrutiny is needed
To tell a voice that's genuinely good
From one that's base but merely has succeeded. (W. H. Auden)

Base words are uttered only by the base And can for such at once be understood; But noble platitudes - ah, there's a case Where the most careful scrutiny is needed To tell a voice that's genuinely good From one that's base but merely has succeeded.

W. H. Auden

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base case good noble once scrutiny tell voice words

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