--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The clear and simple words of common…" description: "\"The clear and simple words of common usage are always better than those of erudition. The jargon of the philosophers not seldom conceals an absence of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/andre-maurois-3217_absence_the-clear-and-simple-words-of-common-usa_2867411.jpg" --- # The clear and simple words of common usage are always… ![“The clear and simple words of common usage are always better than those of erudition. The jargon of the philosophers not seldom conceals an absence of thought.” quote by Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/andre-maurois-3217_absence_the-clear-and-simple-words-of-common-usa_2867411.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/andre-maurois-3217_absence_the-clear-and-simple-words-of-common-usa_2867411.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/andre-maurois-3217_absence_the-clear-and-simple-words-of-common-usa_2867411.jpg) > “The clear and simple words of common usage are always better than those of erudition. The jargon of the philosophers not seldom conceals an absence of thought.” [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Simple, common language conveys ideas better than pretentious jargon, which often hides lack of thought. **In simple terms:** Clear language beats pretentious jargon. Key Takeaway Prioritize clarity in communication. Themes communication writing clarity Mood educational practical Type literary communication When to use this quote - teaching - public speaking - editing - content creation Key Concepts linguistics cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - When is technical language necessary? - How does jargon affect audience trust? A Different Perspective Over‑simplification can miss nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Erudition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erudition/) [Jargon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jargon/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Simple words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-words/) ## Related quotes > [Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/conversation-would-be-vastly-improved-by-the-constant-use-of-four/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [We rarely quote nowadays to appeal to authority... though we quote sometimes to display our sapience and erudition. Some authors we quote against. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ihab-hassan/we-rarely-quote-nowadays-to-appeal-to-authority-though-we-quote/) [Ihab Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ihab-hassan/) > [Even in an advanced stage of civilization, there is always a tendency to prefer those parts of literature which favor ancient prejudices, rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-thomas-buckle/even-in-an-advanced-stage-of-civilization-there-is-always-a-tendency/) [Henry Thomas Buckle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-thomas-buckle/) > [Read for yourselves, read for the sake of your inspiration, for the sweet turmoil in your lovely head. But also read against yourselves, read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/read-for-yourselves-read-for-the-sake-of-your-inspiration-for-the/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [These poems possess intelligence, erudition, gravitas and urgency. Serious and moving in voice and ambition, this passionately lyrical and articulate work reminds me very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoagland/these-poems-possess-intelligence-erudition-gravitas-and-urgency/) [Tony Hoagland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoagland/) > [Literature has her quacks no less than medicine, and they are divided into two classes; those who have erudition without genius, and those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/literature-has-her-quacks-no-less-than-medicine-and-they-are-divided/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [You have overburdened your argument with ostentatious erudition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/you-have-overburdened-your-argument-with-ostentatious-erudition/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [Critics have found in the narrative a veneer of erudition that cloaks nothing more than a James Bond-style romp, albeit a highly addictive one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/critics-have-found-in-the-narrative-a-veneer-of-erudition-that-cloaks/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“For some people, 'erudition' is nothing more than a vehicle for hostility and arrogance; 'good taste' merely an excuse for condescension--or worse, censorship --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-kimberly/for-some-people-erudition-is-nothing-more-than-a-vehicle-for/) Alice Kimberly > [ Don’t you love quotations? 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Erudition and knowledge are not only useless but also cloud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/if-you-see-your-nature-you-don-t-need-to-read-sutras-or-invoke/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## More by Andre Maurois > [Style is the outcome of constraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/style-is-the-outcome-of-constraint/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [To reason with poorly chosen words is like using a pair of scales with inaccurate weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/to-reason-with-poorly-chosen-words-is-like-using-a-pair-of-scales/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [No one can be profoundly original who does not avoid eccentricity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/no-one-can-be-profoundly-original-who-does-not-avoid-eccentricity/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [It is not events and the things one sees and enjoys that produce happiness, but a state of mind which can endow events with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-not-events-and-the-things-one-sees-and-enjoys-that-produce/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [One has very little influence upon one's children. 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I disagree. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-often-said-that-in-prosperity-we-have-many-friends-but-that-we/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Modesty and unselfishness - these are the virtues which men praise - and pass by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/modesty-and-unselfishness-these-are-the-virtues-which-men-praise-and/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Inspiration in matters of taste will not come twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/inspiration-in-matters-of-taste-will-not-come-twice/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/the-reading-of-a-fine-book-is-an-uninterrupted-dialogue-in-which-the/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [“Doua fiinte umane ancorate una langa cealalta sunt ca doua corabii leganate de valuri; cocile lor se ciocnesc si gem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/doua-fiinte-umane-ancorate-una-langa-cealalta-sunt-ca-doua-corabii/) [André Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Among the idle rich, boredom is one of the most common causes of unhappiness. People who have difficulty in earning their living may suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/among-the-idle-rich-boredom-is-one-of-the-most-common-causes-of/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) [Explore all 128 Andre Maurois quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) ## More Absence quotes > [Distance sometimes endears friendship, and absence sweeteneth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/distance-sometimes-endears-friendship-and-absence-sweeteneth-it/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. 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Of the bodily desires, it is the sexual by which they are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/young-men-have-strong-passions-and-tend-to-gratify-them/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. 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Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) [Browse all 2,057 Absence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The clear and simple words of common usage are always better than those of erudition. 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