While often attributed to Samuel Johnson, the precise origin of the adage about thought’s attire remains uncertain. Johnson did write in his Lives of the Poets (1781) that men’s words are “the dress of their thoughts,” a sentiment echoed earlier by thinkers like Lord Chesterfield and even traced back to ancient rhetoricians. The concept suggests that the way ideas are expressed shapes their reception and influences how they are understood.
Attributing clothing to abstract concepts highlights the power of articulation. Clear and effective expression clarifies meaning, making complex ideas accessible and persuasive. Conversely, muddled or imprecise language can obscure even the most brilliant insights. Understanding the link between thought and its expression has been a central concern of philosophers and rhetoricians for centuries, influencing the development of logic, rhetoric, and even cognitive science.