Despite what one might (or might not) think, and despite the heavy cultural emphasis placed upon ornate artistry in written words, Arabic is not a flowery language. It might not even be a pretty one.

This is not because speakers of Arabic do not think about beauty in language, but rather is the result of a slightly different definition of that beauty. While I'm sure that speakers of Arabic can appreciate a particularly melodious passage in their tongue, aesthetics are not their main concern. What they are really occupied with is the choice of words, and how precisely and concisely those words communicate exactly what the author intended. A beautiful passage in Arabic is not a pretty one, but rather one replete with meaning. From what I understand, this is taken very seriously.

In fact, long, long ago, I've read that it was not unheard of for Arabs to embark on long and arduous quests across the unforgiving desert, stringing the days behind them in search of small villages where certain words were coined or used. Upon their arrival, these travelers would ask only for clarification about the meaning and usage of those local words. They would take these treasures, as precious as any gem, back to their homes and introduce them to the literary arsenals of their neighbours and wives, arming them with the perfect weapons against ambiguities yet unknown.