Although I don’t subscribe to all of linguistic philosophy, there is definately something to what the professor says. I’ve noticed that most of the classic works, especially those translated from Latin, displaly a use of language, writing and argument, far superior to that of today.
“I’ve noticed that most of the classic works, especially those translated from Latin, display a use of language, writing and argument, far superior to that of today.”
####
You don’t even have to go back that far.
Much more recent examples of richness in expression and a thorough development of ideas, off the top of my head, would be Dickens’ magnificent David Copperfield-written as a mere popular novel for a very general audience, and the simple exchange of letters betwen John and Abigail Addams.