--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the elbow had been placed closer to…" description: "\"If the elbow had been placed closer to the hand, the forearm would have been too short to bring the glass to the mouth; and if it had been closer to th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/benjamin-franklin-65_cooking_if-the-elbow-had-been-placed-closer-to-t_1816282.png" --- # If the elbow had been placed closer to the hand, the… ![“If the elbow had been placed closer to the hand, the forearm would have been too short to bring the glass to the mouth; and if it had been closer to the shoulder, the forearm would have been so long that it would have carried the glass beyond the mouth.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/benjamin-franklin-65_cooking_if-the-elbow-had-been-placed-closer-to-t_1816282.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/benjamin-franklin-65_cooking_if-the-elbow-had-been-placed-closer-to-t_1816282.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/633/benjamin-franklin-65_cooking_if-the-elbow-had-been-placed-closer-to-t_1816282.png) > “If the elbow had been placed closer to the hand, the forearm would have been too short to bring the glass to the mouth; and if it had been closer to the shoulder, the forearm would have been so long that it would have carried the glass beyond the mouth.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He uses anatomy to illustrate design constraints, showing how form follows function. **In simple terms:** Design balances length and reach. Key Takeaway Consider functional trade‑offs in design. Themes engineering design biology Mood thoughtful practical Type technical educational When to use this quote - product design - prosthetics - tool making Key Concepts ergonomics human factors Questions to Reflect On - What constraints shape your designs? - How do you prioritize competing needs? A Different Perspective Over‑optimizing one dimension may cause other issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) [Culinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culinary/) [Elbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elbow/) [Elbow Placed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elbow-placed-2157673/) [Elbows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elbows/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Forearm Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forearm-long-2157674/) [Forearm Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forearm-short-2157672/) [Glasses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glasses/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [Shoulder Forearm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulder-forearm-2157675/) [Shoulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulders/) [Too short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-short/) ## Related quotes > [The people accusing me of being productive don't know how hard it is for me to just bend my elbow sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/the-people-accusing-me-of-being-productive-don-t-know-how-hard-it-is/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Don't put a lump of rock under my elbow again!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-put-a-lump-of-rock-under-my-elbow-again/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Temptation: the fiend at my elbow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/temptation-the-fiend-at-my-elbow/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I am double jointed in my elbow. So I can turn it all the way around and then bend it so it looks like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gigi-hadid/i-am-double-jointed-in-my-elbow-so-i-can-turn-it-all-the-way-around/) [Gigi Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gigi-hadid/) > [I'm definitely an elbow-room guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kwanten/i-m-definitely-an-elbow-room-guy/) [Ryan Kwanten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kwanten/) > [Diseases of the eye are to bee cured with the elbow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/diseases-of-the-eye-are-to-bee-cured-with-the-elbow/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [I can lick my elbow. I know that's supposed to be impossible, but I can do it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-voegele/i-can-lick-my-elbow-i-know-that-s-supposed-to-be-impossible-but-i-can/) [Kate Voegele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-voegele/) > [Politics is a contact sport - a question of accepting an elbow or two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/politics-is-a-contact-sport-a-question-of-accepting-an-elbow-or-two/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I don't know my armpit from my elbow in Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-schilling/i-don-t-know-my-armpit-from-my-elbow-in-los-angeles/) [Taylor Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-schilling/) > [“It’s an elbow propped on the edge of a table when you’re wrapping up an argument, or to signify you’re just getting started. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/durga-chew-bose/it-s-an-elbow-propped-on-the-edge-of-a-table-when-you-re-wrapping-up/) [Durga Chew-Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/durga-chew-bose/) > [“We are always ready to take care of you.We are providing you the better and reliable treatment for your Tennis Elbow Injury.It is generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-fitzmaurice-hand-institute/we-are-always-ready-to-take-care-of-you-we-are-providing-you-the/) [The Fitzmaurice Hand Institute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-fitzmaurice-hand-institute/) > [“You might get an elbow in the face, maybe kicked in the ’nads.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/you-might-get-an-elbow-in-the-face-maybe-kicked-in-the-nads/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [In drawing after drawing, pastel after pastel, painting after painting, the contours of Degas's dancing figures become, at a certain point, darkly insistent, tangled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/in-drawing-after-drawing-pastel-after-pastel-painting-after-painting/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [Maine out of season is unmistakably a great destination: hospitable, good-humored, plenty of elbow room, short days, dark nights of crackling ice crystals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/maine-out-of-season-is-unmistakably-a-great-destination-hospitable/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [It is physically impossible to lick your own elbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tee-shepard/it-is-physically-impossible-to-lick-your-own-elbow/) [Tee Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tee-shepard/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Cooking quotes > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [I enjoy cooking, but stick to modern dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/i-enjoy-cooking-but-stick-to-modern-dishes/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [A man accustomed to American food and American domestic cookery would not starve to death suddenly in Europe, but I think he would gradually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-man-accustomed-to-american-food-and-american-domestic-cookery-would/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“In the back of the fridge I checked out some stewed apples destined to fester. I examined them closely and reckoned they had only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/in-the-back-of-the-fridge-i-checked-out-some-stewed-apples-destined/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [My Mom always cooked healthy. Greek food lends itself to cooking healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-cora/my-mom-always-cooked-healthy-greek-food-lends-itself-to-cooking/) [Cat Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-cora/) > [Cooking brings me so much joy. I love everything, down to the execution of the plate to picking out fresh ingredients at the market.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/cooking-brings-me-so-much-joy-i-love-everything-down-to-the-execution/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) > [Recipes don't work unless you use your heart!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-jones/recipes-don-t-work-unless-you-use-your-heart/) [Dylan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-jones/) > [Cooking is 80 percent confidence, a skill best acquired starting from when the apron strings wrap around you twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/cooking-is-80-percent-confidence-a-skill-best-acquired-starting-from/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I have a great time cooking and eating Thai green chicken curry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-have-a-great-time-cooking-and-eating-thai-green-chicken-curry/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There are times when born hollandaise heads, as well as nouveaux turbot freaks and recherche escargotphiles alike crave the saignet abundance of a New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-greene/there-are-times-when-born-hollandaise-heads-as-well-as-nouveaux/) [Gael Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-greene/) > [Speaking of trust, ever since I wrote this book, 'Liespotting,' no one wants to meet me in person anymore - no, no, no, no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-meyer/speaking-of-trust-ever-since-i-wrote-this-book-liespotting-no-one/) [Pamela Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-meyer/) > [Balance is key in cooking - you want a little acid, a little sweet, a little savory - the flavors should be harmonious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-simmons/balance-is-key-in-cooking-you-want-a-little-acid-a-little-sweet-a/) [Gail Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-simmons/) > [A combination of the qualities of the scholar, the master cook, the painter, the gastronomer, the sportsman and the pantologist, assisted by the skill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ellwanger/a-combination-of-the-qualities-of-the-scholar-the-master-cook-the/) [George Ellwanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ellwanger/) [Browse all 2,937 Cooking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the elbow had been placed closer to the hand, the forearm would have been too short to bring the glass to the mouth; 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