Quotation:

"I would never use a long word, even, where a short one would answer the purpose."

Long quote:
"I would never use a long word, even, where a short one would answer the purpose. I know there are professors in this country who 'ligate' arteries. Other surgeons only tie them, and it stops the bleeding just as well."

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr (1809-1894) American physician, professor, lecturer and writer

answer the purpose: do the (same) job
ligate (verb): to tie (an artery)
artery (noun): tube in your body which carries blood from your heart
surgeon (noun): a doctor who treats people by cutting open their body and doing an operation; a doctor who operates on people
bleeding: loss of blood; flow of blood outside the body

Contributor: Josef Essberger