My students no longer ask whether writing sounds polished; they ask whether it sounds true and loyal to the materials at hand. When something sounds too polished, I suspect that something human has been removed: doubt, disagreement, slowness, accountability and the evidence of care. The ancient Greeks understood that harmony does not mean smoothness. They smooth the edges, manage the tension and deliver answers that do not require us to struggle. Professor Jan Burzlaff Jan Burzlaff is an Opinion Columnist and a Postdoctoral Associate in the Program for Jewish Studies.

Source: Daily Sun February 20, 2026 19:18 UTC