There's a great quote attributed to Albert Einstein, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t know it well enough.”
Keep it simple.
It’s well known that Ernest Hemingway had a love of simple sentences.
Get to the point.
"Don't act grudgingly, selfishly, without due diligence, or to be a contrarian. Don't overdress your thought in fine language. Don't be a person of too many words and too many deeds.... Be cheerful, not wanting outside help or the relief others might bring. A person needs to stand on their own, not be propped up." —MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 3.5
Artistic flourishes sometimes have their place but the older I get, the more I appreciate distilling things down to their simplest form.
Simplicity in writing and in speech convey not only a mastery of the information but also confidence in the delivery. Saying exactly what we mean and no more also takes away the temptation to tailor your words to what you think your specific audience might want to hear—which is usually a huge mistake.
By talking less you also gain the added benefit of listening more, which will teach you more than you imagine about people and the world around you. Time waits for no one so don’t waste any of it padding your conversation with useless complexity.
There’s a quiet power in restraint. This isn’t just about minimalism for style’s sake—it’s about clarity, intention, and respect. Respect for your reader and your listener's time, and for the moment itself. When you speak plainly and without ornament, your ideas are easier to understand and absorb. It gives your message room to breathe.
Clutter obscures elegance. So the next time you're tempted to try to impress someone with eloquence, try impressing with precision instead. Your words will land more cleanly, but they’ll also echo longer. Brevity isn't just the soul of wit—it’s the heart of wisdom.
For the coming week, set the following notification on your mobile device for once during the morning and once in the afternoon...
Less Is More
This will serve as a daily reminder throughout the next week to keep it simple to get to the point.
Be well, make the most of this day. Thank you for reading!
If you're interested in learning to meditate, please take a look at my book, The Perfect Pause.
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