Marriage, like religion and erudition, nay, like authorship itself, was fated to become an outward requirement, and Edward Casaubon was bent on fulfilling unimpeachably all requirements.
His skills in writing melodious English verse and his combination of emotion, erudition, and spiritual vision have won him the admiration of generations of English poets.
As minister, Jefferson presented America's republican case with erudition and dexterity, hailed France tactfully as a counterpoise to a common British antagonist, and negotiated a consular convention.
Onto this element of constant surprise he grafted the dazzling wordplay that was his trademark, a rich and recondite vocabulary, and an erudition based on reading and travel.