Quotes About Conciseness

One mistake with beginners in writing is, that they think it important to spin out something long. It is a great deal better not to write more than a page or two, unless you have something to say, and can write it correctly.

The pressure isn't on my brain, but on my mouth. I realized Sam Malone said very little, he spoke in little sentences. Which is much more comfortable for me for some reason.

Men of few words are the best men." (3.2.41)

A man who uses a great many words to express his meaning is like a bad marksman who, instead of aiming a single stone at an object, takes up a handful and throws at it in hopes he may hit.

Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.

Every man should study conciseness in speaking; it is a sign of ignorance not to know that long speeches, though they may please the speaker, are the torture of the hearer.

This is a hurried age we're living in. If you've got anything to say, say it quickly, get to the point and stop, and give the other man a chance to talk.

True brevity of expression consists in a man only saying what is worth saying, while avoiding all diffuse explanations of things which every one can think out for himself.

There is no more difficult art to acquire than the art of observation, and for some men it is quite as difficult to record an observation in brief and plain language.

As for dialogue, I think it keeps things moving to cut to the chase.

I think that there's something about short films that just kind of keeps your muscles sharp.

You are not Proust. Do not write long sentences. If they come into your head, write them, but then break them down. Do not be afraid to repeat the subject twice, and stay away from too many pronouns and subordinate clauses.

Querido Adso, no conviene multiplicar las explicaciones y las causas mientras no haya estricta necesidad de hacerlo.

Todo se explica utilizando menor número de causas.

Train yourself to say what you want to say and then stop.

What do you think of them?" "They're fine. Why ask them to be shorter?

Rem tene, verba sequntur (Keep to the subject, and the words will follow)

Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.

Jurists, with rare exceptions, are unconsciously and tenaciously averse to clarity and brevity.

The simplification of anything is always sensational.

The truth is always the best approach when saying no. Keep it simple. People don't need to hear your sob story. A five-minute exposition about your busy life, your demanding mother, or your clinging children isn't the most effective approach. That may be the truth, but you've given too much information, and your listener tuned out four minutes ago.

Better by far spend two whole days on a quarter page ad, and have it right, than fill a whole page full of bombastic piffle and senseless inanities...

BREVITY. The quality that makes cigarettes, speeches, love affairs and ocean voyages bearable.

Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.