"It is no great art to say something briefly when, like Tacitus, one has something to say; when one has nothing to say, however, and none the less writes a whole book and makes truth into a liar - that I call an achievement"

This quote by Horace speaks to the power of brevity and the skill of having the ability to say something significant in a few words. He is applauding the Roman historian Tacitus for his capability to say something meaningful in a couple of words. He is also slamming those who write an entire book without anything meaningful to say. He believes that it takes an unique sort of ability to compose a book with no significant material and still make it look like it is true. He believes that this is an achievement, and one that need to be appreciated. This quote speaks with the power of words and the importance of being able to communicate effectively and concisely. It also speaks to the importance of being able to discern truth from lies, and to be able to recognize when somebody is trying to deceive you. It is a suggestion that words have power, and that it is essential to use them wisely.