The idea is to get the pencil moving quickly.
—Bernard Malamud (1914–86) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
The more we reduce the size of our world, the more we shall be its master.
—Jacinto Benavente (1866–1954) Spanish Dramatist
In character, in manners, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Maybe a person’s time would be as well spent raising food as raising money to buy food.
—Frank A. Clark
It is the childlike mind that finds the kingdom.
—Charles Fillmore (1854–1948) American New Thought Mystic
A refined simplicity is the characteristic of all high bred deportment, in every country, and a considerate humanity should be the aim of all beneath it.
—James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851) American Novelist
The simplest things are often the truest.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Writer, Aviator
Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.
—Frederic Chopin (1810–49) Polish-French Composer, Pianist
What is conceived well is expressed clearly.
—Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux (1636–1711) French Poet, Satirist, Literary Critic
If our love were but more simple, we should take Him at his word, and our lives would be all sunshine in the sweetness of the Lord.
—Frederick William Faber (1814–63) British Hymn Writer, Theologian
At times almost all of us envy the animals. They suffer and die, but do not seem to make a “problem” of it.
—Alan Watts (1915–73) British-American Philosopher, Author
It is proof of high culture to say the greatest matters in the simplest way.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say let your affairs be as one, two, three and to a hundred or a thousand … We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
I hate American simplicity. I glory in the piling up of complications of every sort. If I could pronounce the name James in any different or more elaborate way I should be in favor of doing it.
—Henry James (1843–1916) American-born British Novelist, Writer
Simplicity of all things is the hardest to copy.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
There is a point at which everything becomes simple and there is no longer any question of choice, because all you have staked will be lost if you look back. Life’s point of no return.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
Simplicity of character is no hindrance to subtlety of intellect.
—John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn (1838–1923) British Writer, Journalist, Political Leader, Editor
If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.
—William Morris (1834–96) British Designer, Craftsman, Poet, Writer
If you don’t throw it, they can’t hit it.
—Lefty Gomez (1908–89) American Sportsperson
The great things in life are what they seem to be. And for that reason, strange as it may sound to you, often are very difficult to interpret (understand). Great passion are for the great of souls. Great events can only be seen by people who are on a level with them. We think we can have our visions for nothing. We cannot. Even the finest and most self-sacrificing visions have to paid for. Strangely enough, that is what makes them fine.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The sculptor produces the beautiful statue by chipping away such parts of the marble block as are not needed—it is a process of elimination.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
It is a fair trade and an equal exchange: to the extent that you depart from things, thus far, no more and no less, God enters into you with all that is his, as far as you have stripped yourself of yourself in all things. It is here that you should begin, whatever the cost, for it is here that you will find true peace, and nowhere else.
—Meister Eckhart (c.1260–1327) German Christian Mystic
They are the guiding oracles which man has found out for himself in that great business of ours, of learning how to be, to do, to do without, and to depart.
—John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn (1838–1923) British Writer, Journalist, Political Leader, Editor
I paint from the top down. From the sky, then the mountains, then the hills, then the houses, then the cattle, and then the people.
—Grandma Moses (1860–1961) American Painter, Artist
Intellectual comradeship requires that you think your thoughts through to the place where you can make the complex seem simple, the obscure quite clear.
—David Seabury (1885–1960) American Psychologist
I go about looking at horses and cattle. They eat grass, make love, work when they have to, bear their young. I am sick with envy of them.
—Sherwood Anderson (1876–1941) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Author, Philosopher
Life will not bear refinement. You must do as other people do.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Teach us Delight in simple things,
And Mirth that has no bitter springs.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Writer, Poet, Novelist, Short Story Author
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
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