Impossible grammar

English syntax demands subject before object. Human memory demand light before heavy. Human comprehension demands topic before comment and given before new. How can a writer reconcile these irreconcilable demands about where the words should go in a sentence?—The Sense of Style, page 131

<idle musing>
Enter the passive voice. Yes, the much maligned passive voice. Sure, it gets misused, but it's pretty handy...
</idle musing>