A lost page can turn a clear argument into a mysterious one without adding any depth.

Absence gets mistaken for depth. Take away a step in a plain argument and what remains looks cryptic, even profound, though nothing was added and no insight was gained. Obscurity can be a symptom of missing pieces rather than a sign of richness, and we are unreliable at telling the two apart.

When something strikes you as deep but unfollowable, ask whether a step is missing rather than assuming you are not clever enough. Try to reconstruct the argument in full; if it becomes ordinary, you have your answer. And in your own writing, be suspicious when cutting makes you sound more impressive.