--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: More is not more. Researchers at Saint…" description: "\"“More is not more. Researchers at Saint Louis University have found that ten to eighteen minutes is the length of time past which you begin a game of d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/bill-mcgowan-19272_science_more-is-not-more-researchers-at-saint-lo_3058646.jpg" --- # More is not more. Researchers at Saint Louis University… ![“More is not more. Researchers at Saint Louis University have found that ten to eighteen minutes is the length of time past which you begin a game of diminishing returns on your listener’s attention. Take a guess how long President Obama’s 2013 inauguration speech was. That’s right: eighteen…” quote by Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/bill-mcgowan-19272_science_more-is-not-more-researchers-at-saint-lo_3058646.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/bill-mcgowan-19272_science_more-is-not-more-researchers-at-saint-lo_3058646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/bill-mcgowan-19272_science_more-is-not-more-researchers-at-saint-lo_3058646.jpg) > ““More is not more. Researchers at Saint Louis University have found that ten to eighteen minutes is the length of time past which you begin a game of diminishing returns on your listener’s attention. Take a guess how long President Obama’s 2013 inauguration speech was. That’s right: eighteen minutes. Coincidence? I doubt it.”” [Bill McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcgowan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Notes that attention drops after 18 minutes, matching the length of Obama’s 2013 inauguration speech, implying optimal speech length. **In simple terms:** Attention wanes after about eighteen minutes. Key Takeaway Keep talks under eighteen minutes. Themes communication attention efficiency Mood informative analytical Type research advice When to use this quote - presentations - lectures - podcasts Key Concepts cognitive psychology public speaking Questions to Reflect On - How long should a speech be? - What keeps audiences engaged? 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