Brevity is the soul of lingerie.
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
The most valuable of all talents is never using two words when one will do.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Good things, when short, are twice as good.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
The one prudence of life is concentration.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Talk low, talk slow, and don’t say too much.
—John Wayne (1907–79) American Actor, Director, Producer
Brevity is the best recommendation of speech, whether in a senator or an orator.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
When you introduce a moral lesson, let it be brief.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
I will be brief. Not nearly so brief as Salvador Dali, who gave the world’s shortest speech. He said I will be so brief I have already finished, and he sat down.
—E. O. Wilson (b.1929) American Zoologist
Brevity and conciseness are the parents of correction.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
Omit needless words. Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
—William Strunk, Jr. (1869–1946) American Writer, Academic