My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.
—Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) American Author, Journalist, Short Story Writer
What is conceived well is expressed clearly.
—Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux (1636–1711) French Poet, Satirist, Literary Critic
Simplicity is the glory of expression.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval. The dark background which death supplies brings out the tender colors of life in all their purity.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
There is no greatness where simplicity, goodness and truth are absent.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
To poke a wood fire is more solid enjoyment than almost anything else in the world.
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
It is simplicity that makes the uneducated more effective than the educated when addressing popular audiences.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
There is a majesty in simplicity which is far above the quaintness of wit.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
No matter how complicated a problem is, it usually can be reduced to a simple, comprehensible form which is often the best solution.
—An Wang (1920–90) Chinese-born American Engineer, Inventor, Entrepreneur
It is the childlike mind that finds the kingdom.
—Charles Fillmore (1854–1948) American New Thought Mystic
Teach us Delight in simple things,
And Mirth that has no bitter springs.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Children’s Books Writer, Short story, Novelist, Poet, Journalist
He is of a free and open nature that thinks all men honest who but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by the nose as asses are.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Behind the complicated details of the world stand the simplicities: God is good, the grown-up man or woman knows the answer to every question, there is such a thing as truth, and justice is as measured and faultless as a clock. Our heroes are simple: they are brave, they tell the truth, they are good swordsmen and they are never in the long run really defeated. That is why no later books satisfy us like those which were read to us in childhood—for those promised a world of great simplicity of which we knew the rules, but the later books are complicated and contradictory with experience; they are formed out of our own disappointing memories.
—Graham Greene (1904–91) British Novelist, Playwright, Short Story Writer
Affected simplicity is refined imposture.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Simplicity of all things is the hardest to copy.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
Never do anything standing that you can do sitting, or anything sitting that you can do lying down.
—Chinese Proverb
A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
For men in a state of freedom had thatch for their shelter, while slavery dwells beneath marble and gold.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
—Unknown
Simplicity and naturalness are the truest marks of distinction.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Simplicity is indeed often the sign of truth and a criterion of beauty.
—Mahlon Hoagland (1921–2009) American Biochemist
Simplicity is the seal of truth.
—Indian Proverb
Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.—Simplicity is in the intention; purity in the affection: simplicity turns to God; purity unites with and enjoys him.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
If you want to be found, stand where the seeker seeks.
—Sidney Lanier (1842–81) American Poet
True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
It can scarcely be denied that the supreme goal of all theory is to make the irreducible basic elements as simple and as few as possible without having to surrender the adequate representation of a single datum of experience.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
The grand aim of all science is to cover the greatest number of empirical facts by logical deduction from the smallest number of hypotheses or axioms.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
When ideas come, I write them; when they don’t come, I don’t.
—William Faulkner (1897–1962) American Novelist
See it big, and keep it simple.
—Wilferd Arlan Peterson (1900–95) American Author
Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it.
—Rene Descartes (1596–1650) French Mathematician, Philosopher
Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee! Thy second duty will already have become clearer.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Spiritual Teacher, Philosopher
From naive simplicity we arrive at more profound simplicity.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
Creativity is more than just being different. Anybody can play weird—that’s easy. What’s hard is to be as simple as Bach. Making the simple complicated is commonplace—making the complicated simple, awesomely simple—that’s creativity.
—Charles Mingus (1922–79) American Jazz Bassist, Composer
Our affluent society contains those of talent and insight who are driven to prefer poverty, to choose it, rather than submit to the desolation of an empty abundance.
—Michael Harrington (1928–89) American Socialist, Writer, Political Activist, Academic
Refined policy has ever been the parent of confusion, and ever will be so, as long as the world endures. Plain good intention, which is as easily discovered at the first view as fraud is surely detected at last, is of no mean force in the government of mankind. Genuine simplicity of heart is a healing and cementing principle.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction.
—E. F. Schumacher (1911–77) German Mathematician, Economist
Our life is frittered away by detail… Simplify, simplify, simplify! … Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Who is rich? He who rejoices in his portion.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his mind; but our primary consideration would be to take care of ourselves. We should knock him down first, and pity him afterwards.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The height of cultivation runs to simplicity. Halfway cultivation runs to ornamentation.
—Bruce Lee (1940–73) American Martial Artist, Actor, Philosopher
Everything we possess that is not necessary for life or happiness becomes a burden, and scarcely a day passes that we do not add to it.
—Robert Brault
Straightforwardness and simplicity are in keeping with goodness.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
When you are at sea, keep clear of the land.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
The main purpose of science is simplicity and as we understand more things, everything is becoming simpler.
—Edward Teller (1908–2003) Hungarian-born American Physicist
Simplicity of character is the natural result of profound thought.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Plurality should not be assumed without necessity.
—William of Ockham (1288–1347) English Philosopher, Theologian
As poet-philosopher Rabindranath Tagore reminds us, “We cannot cross the sea merely by staring at the water”. Simplicity has power. And living on purpose comes to this: Just do it. How much simpler can we get?
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
Simplicity and repose are the qualities that measure the true value of any work of art.
—Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) American Architect