Literary notes about Magnitude (AI summary)
The term “magnitude” in literature has long been a versatile tool, used to convey impressions of size, importance, and even emotional impact. In some instances, it describes physical dimensions or structures, as in the portrayal of an imposing mansion that is ironically just the right size for its inhabitants [1] or the depiction of edifices and landscapes whose scale astounds the observer [2, 3]. In other contexts, authors employ “magnitude” metaphorically to articulate ideas of greatness or significance, whether in the grandeur of historical events [4, 5], the vastness of intellectual endeavor and genius [6, 7, 8], or the immeasurable impact of a discovery or calamity [9, 10]. Thus, from literal measurements to abstract assessments of worth or consequence, “magnitude” has served as an evocative, multi-faceted descriptor across a wide array of literary works.
- His mansion is like a great hospital of invalids, and, with all its magnitude, is not a whit too large for its inhabitants.
— from The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon by Washington Irving - A multitude of edifices, isolated and varying in magnitude, were scattered about, with gardens and ornamental grounds interspersed.
— from Toronto of Old by Henry Scadding - On entering here the magnitude of the building breaks fully upon the mind, contrasted with the vaults of the cloisters.
— from The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon by Washington Irving - It is singular; it is grown up to this magnitude and importance within the memory of man; nothing in history is parallel to it.
— from The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 01 (of 12) by Edmund Burke - In short, the disaster falling upon the whole town was unsurpassed in magnitude, and unapproached by any in suddenness and in horror.
— from The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides - While a genius of the first magnitude, the definition of genius as "the infinite capacity for taking pains" hardly belongs to him.
— from English Literature by William J. Long - The one point of resemblance between the two authors is simply in the tremendous magnitude of their genius.
— from Best Russian Short Stories - By arousing the sentiments nurtured by Bushido, moral renovation of great magnitude can be accomplished.
— from Bushido, the Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe - For some time he stood thus, literally aghast at the magnitude of his discovery.
— from A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne - The gigantic magnitude and the immediately available nature of the sum, dazzled and bewildered all who thought upon the topic.
— from The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven Edition by Edgar Allan Poe
