--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thinks that when you are trying to…" description: "\"Thinks that when you are trying to explain something to some people, you really need to break it down BARNEY-style for them.\" — Ash Sweeney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/ash-sweeney-731_explain_thinks-that-when-you-are-trying-to-expla_2585171.jpg" --- # Thinks that when you are trying to explain something to… ![“Thinks that when you are trying to explain something to some people, you really need to break it down BARNEY-style for them.” quote by Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/ash-sweeney-731_explain_thinks-that-when-you-are-trying-to-expla_2585171.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/ash-sweeney-731_explain_thinks-that-when-you-are-trying-to-expla_2585171.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/ash-sweeney-731_explain_thinks-that-when-you-are-trying-to-expla_2585171.jpg) > “Thinks that when you are trying to explain something to some people, you really need to break it down BARNEY-style for them.” [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explaining complex ideas requires simplifying them into relatable, step‑by‑step analogies, like the character Barney’s style. **In simple terms:** Break down concepts simply, like Barney. Key Takeaway Use clear analogies to teach complex topics. Themes communication teaching simplicity Mood educational practical Type instructional motivational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - product demos - team briefings Key Concepts analogy learning theory Questions to Reflect On - When does simplification hinder understanding? - How to balance clarity with depth? A Different Perspective Oversimplification can omit critical nuances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Stupid people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-people/) ## Related quotes > [“Stop trying to explain yourself. People only understand things from their level of perception; within the parameters of their agreement with reality. Save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/stop-trying-to-explain-yourself-people-only-understand-things-from/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [You can tell I have kids right? Just so I don't break out into a Barney tune here in three minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-spielman/you-can-tell-i-have-kids-right-just-so-i-don-t-break-out-into-a/) Chris Spielman > [Never waste your time trying to explain who you are to people who are committed to misunderstanding you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-who-you-are-to-people-who-are-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never waste your time trying to explain who you are to people who are commited to understanding you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stay-strong/never-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-who-you-are-to-people-who-are/) Stay Strong > [Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who are committed to misunderstanding you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-mbululo/never-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-who-are/) [Ally Mbululo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-mbululo/) > [I guess I want people to see me and to try to explain myself, and you don't always get the chance. Sometimes you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gord-downie/i-guess-i-want-people-to-see-me-and-to-try-to-explain-myself-and-you/) [Gord Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gord-downie/) > [“There’s no way to explain how two people, or an animal and a person, connect. I guess it’s just like when you fall in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-haygert/there-s-no-way-to-explain-how-two-people-or-an-animal-and-a-person/) [Juliana Haygert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-haygert/) > [“He wanted to explain how people were never quite what you thought they were.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/he-wanted-to-explain-how-people-were-never-quite-what-you-thought/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [“People don't help much.' He wanted to explain how people were never quite what you thought they were.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/people-don-t-help-much-he-wanted-to-explain-how-people-were-never/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [I want to explain to people by working hard, but people doesn't understand that what I wrote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/i-want-to-explain-to-people-by-working-hard-but-people-doesn-t/) Mak\_786 > [I've given up on trying to explain myself, or trying to set the record straight, or trying to get people to understand what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/i-ve-given-up-on-trying-to-explain-myself-or-trying-to-set-the-record/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [You cant make other people understand what you are trying to explain if you dont understand it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cant-make-other-people-understand-what-you-are-trying-to-explain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not the guy who will sit in a room with somebody who's using a bunch of big words and just act like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/i-m-not-the-guy-who-will-sit-in-a-room-with-somebody-who-s-using-a/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [Most people aren't actually anti-social. They choose to be alone because they hate spending time with stupid people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/most-people-aren-t-actually-anti-social-they-choose-to-be-alone/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by Ash Sweeney > [You can close the windows and darken your room, and you can open the windows and let light in. It is a matter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/you-can-close-the-windows-and-darken-your-room-and-you-can-open-the/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Tomorrow can be better or worse but will never be same as today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/tomorrow-can-be-better-or-worse-but-will-never-be-same-as-today/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [What is it with people nowadays, you claim you want something real' when it's staring at your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/what-is-it-with-people-nowadays-you-claim-you-want-something-real/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [The real reason you struggling with letting go is because you keep holding on to what they use to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-letting-go-is-because-you-keep/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [It's one of those things that people say, you can't move on until you let go of the past. Letting go is the easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/it-s-one-of-those-things-that-people-say-you-can-t-move-on-until-you/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Half of being happy is being happy with what you've got, the other half is being happy no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/half-of-being-happy-is-being-happy-with-what-you-ve-got-the-other/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [I like these words -- they seem to suggest action: If you hear a kind word spoken Of some worthy soul you know, It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/i-like-these-words-they-seem-to-suggest-action-if-you-hear-a-kind/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Everyday I wake up, knowing that the thought of you will carry me through the morning. As I reach the middle of my day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/everyday-i-wake-up-knowing-that-the-thought-of-you-will-carry-me/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Facebook isn't a waste of time, it's important, it um, let's me, um, yeah OK it's a waste of time but you do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/facebook-isn-t-a-waste-of-time-it-s-important-it-um-let-s-me-um-yeah/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [The blind leading the blind are those which think they can see into the heart of another. But are blinded by love and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-blind-leading-the-blind-are-those-which-think-they-can-see-into/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [When you feel like quitting, think about why you started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/when-you-feel-like-quitting-think-about-why-you-started/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to a new understanding with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/some-people-come-into-our-lives-and-quickly-go-some-people-move-our/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [If we spend a lifetime searching for the meaning of life, we will truly miss out on everything meaningful and beautiful around us. Live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/if-we-spend-a-lifetime-searching-for-the-meaning-of-life-we-will/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Even though we are separated by distance at this time, I am content knowing we are both looking at the same beautiful moon tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/even-though-we-are-separated-by-distance-at-this-time-i-am-content/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [Sometimes people only give you one chance. You mess up once , and you're done. Please treat the person you admire the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/sometimes-people-only-give-you-one-chance-you-mess-up-once-and-you-re/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) [Explore all 389 Ash Sweeney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) ## More Explain quotes > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Back home I get to see my old friends!(: But they don't understand the change in me and I can't explain it to them...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/back-home-i-get-to-see-my-old-friends-but-they-don-t-understand-the/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [If you have a good idea you must explain it or you will fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-you-have-a-good-idea-you-must-explain-it-or-you-will-fail/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [How do you explain a person like Asha Bhosle? A star or a super star or just someone from the Gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anu-malik/how-do-you-explain-a-person-like-asha-bhosle-a-star-or-a-super-star/) [Anu Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anu-malik/) > [If you win you need not explain……But if you lose you should not be there to explain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-win-you-need-not-explain-but-if-you-lose-you-should-not-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm afraid I can't explain myself, sir. Because I am not myself, you see?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-m-afraid-i-can-t-explain-myself-sir-because-i-am-not-myself-you-see/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [There is an indefinable quality possessed by some artists. You simply can't explain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-ellen/there-is-an-indefinable-quality-possessed-by-some-artists-you-simply/) [Vera-Ellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-ellen/) > [To be in a room and have to explain your point of view is a huge skill in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-savage/to-be-in-a-room-and-have-to-explain-your-point-of-view-is-a-huge/) [Stephanie Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-savage/) > [“I am not sure how to explain it, except that - truth matters to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-am-not-sure-how-to-explain-it-except-that-truth-matters-to-us/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [When I'm creating art or music, when something is resonating or a scene is going well, that almost feels religious to me... there's this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-thatcher/when-i-m-creating-art-or-music-when-something-is-resonating-or-a/) [Sophie Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-thatcher/) > [In a Western, you don't over-explain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/in-a-western-you-don-t-over-explain/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [I'm not the guy who will sit in a room with somebody who's using a bunch of big words and just act like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/i-m-not-the-guy-who-will-sit-in-a-room-with-somebody-who-s-using-a/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [I explain at the parties that I believe knitting is a transformative and intriguing act that can change the life and brain of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/i-explain-at-the-parties-that-i-believe-knitting-is-a-transformative/) [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-pearl-mcphee/) > [Old cookbooks connect you to your past and explain the history of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/old-cookbooks-connect-you-to-your-past-and-explain-the-history-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no way to explain enlightenment. It is just a word to indicate something beyond, something very, very far beyond the normal human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-no-way-to-explain-enlightenment-it-is-just-a-word-to/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) Browse all 989 Explain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thinks that when you are trying to explain something to some people, you really need to break it down BARNEY-style for them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ash Sweeney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/thinks-that-when-you-are-trying-to-explain-something-to-some-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Explain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/thinks-that-when-you-are-trying-to-explain-something-to-some-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/ash-sweeney-731_explain_thinks-that-when-you-are-trying-to-expla_2585171.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/ash-sweeney-731_explain_thinks-that-when-you-are-trying-to-expla_2585171.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76b/ash-sweeney-731_explain_thinks-that-when-you-are-trying-to-expla_2585171.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Thinks that when you are trying to explain something to some people, you really need to break it down…” — Ash Sweeney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ash Sweeney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Thinks that when you are trying...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/thinks-that-when-you-are-trying-to-explain-something-to-some-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/thinks-that-when-you-are-trying-to-explain-something-to-some-people/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```