The idea is to get the pencil moving quickly.
—Bernard Malamud (1914–86) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Historian, Political Leader, Explorer
Simplicity is the seal of truth.
—Common Proverb
Putting aside all the fancy words and academic doubletalk, the basic reason for having a military is to do two jobs—to kill people and to destroy the works of man.
—Thomas S. Power (1905–70) American Military Leader
All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Layering complexity on stupid ideas does not make them any less stupid.
—Aswath Damodaran (b.1957) Indian-American Finance Professor
Never do anything standing that you can do sitting, or anything sitting that you can do lying down.
—Chinese Proverb
What is conceived well is expressed clearly.
—Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux (1636–1711) French Poet, Satirist, Literary Critic
Life is not complex. We are complex. Life is simple, and the simple thing is the right thing.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The more we reduce the size of our world, the more we shall be its master.
—Jacinto Benavente (1866–1954) Spanish Dramatist
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Things to remember: 1) The worth of character; 2) The improvement of talent; 3) The influence of example; 4) The joy of origination; 5) The dignity of simplicity; 6) The success of perseverance.
—Marshall Field (1834–1906) American Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Businessperson
Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it.
—Rene Descartes (1596–1650) French Mathematician, Philosopher
I’ve learned to keep things simple. Look at your choices, pick the best one, then go to work with all your heart.
—Pat Riley (b.1945) American Basketball Player, Coach
Partial culture runs to the ornate, extreme culture to simplicity.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Success is simple. Do what’s right, the right way, at the right time.
—Arnold Glasow (1905–98) American Businessman
I take a simple view of living. It is, keep your eyes open and get on with it.
—Laurence Olivier (1907–89) English Actor, Producer, Director
The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.
—Hans Hofmann (1880–1966) German-American Painter
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 Folk Artist, Centenarian
Nothing is true, but that which is simple.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
It is proof of high culture to say the greatest matters in the simplest way.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
When thought is too weak to be simply expressed, it’s clear proof that it should be rejected.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Author, Philosopher
Do the duty which lieth nearest to thee! Thy second duty will already have become clearer.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
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
It’s a round ball and a round bat, and you got to hit it square.
—Pete Rose (1941–2024) American MLB Player, Manager, All-Time Hits Leader
Our life is frittered away by detail… Simplify, simplify, simplify! … Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
When you are at sea, keep clear of the land.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Simplicity is indeed often the sign of truth and a criterion of beauty.
—Mahlon Hoagland (1921–2009) American Biochemist
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