---
title: "Litotes in the songs. They aren't bad )))"
description: "Litotes It’s quite simple. Litotes is a figure of speech in which a person uses a negative statement..."
author: "Rakhmetova_madina"
published: "2012-04-06T14:23:11+00:00"
modified: "2012-04-06T14:23:11+00:00"
locale: "ru"
canonical_url: "https://yvision.kz/post/litotes-in-the-songs-they-aren-t-bad-245740"
markdown_url: "https://yvision.kz/post/litotes-in-the-songs-they-aren-t-bad-245740/markdown"
site_name: "Yvision.kz"
---

# Litotes in the songs. They aren't bad )))

> Litotes It’s quite simple. Litotes is a figure of speech in which a person uses a negative statement...

## Litotes

![litotes1.jpg](http://literaryzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/litotes1.jpg)

It’s quite simple. Litotes is a figure of speech in which a person uses a negative statement to enforce the positive. For example, saying not bad instead of good. It’s really an understatement.

The word litotes comes from Greek litos meaning simple, plain.

# Snow Patrol - You Could Be Happy

You could be happy and I won't knowBut you **weren't happy** the day I watched you goAnd all the things that I wish I had not saidAre played on lips 'til it's madness in my head Somehow everything I own smells of youAnd for the tiniest moment **it's all not true**Do the things that you always wanted toWithout me there to hold you back, don't think, just do

## Bob Dylan Tomorrow Is A Long Time

If today **was not an endless highway, **If tonight **was not a crooked trail, **If tomorrow **wasn't such a long time, **Then lonesome would mean nothing to you at all. Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin', Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin', Only if she was lyin' by me, Then I'd lie in my bed once again. [ Lyrics from:

---

Source: [https://yvision.kz/post/litotes-in-the-songs-they-aren-t-bad-245740](https://yvision.kz/post/litotes-in-the-songs-they-aren-t-bad-245740)