Complicated Quote by David Mccandless
“I remember researching a really complicated article and having trouble keeping track of all the different perspectives. I ended up drawing a diagram to help myself follow how the ideas were interrelated. I looked at the diagram when I had finished and thought, "Oh, maybe I don't need to write the article now - maybe I've done my job as a journalist. I can convey my understanding through the diagram."”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Talk on Visual Thinking, 2016
A complex article can be clarified by visualizing relationships, turning mental maps into tangible diagrams that capture understanding without full prose.
In simple terms: Diagrams can replace lengthy writing for comprehension.
Key Takeaway
Use visual tools to organize and convey ideas.
Themes
clarity
visualization
journalism
learning
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
educational
practical
When to use this quote
- research writing
- academic study
- media reporting
- team brainstorming
Key Concepts
cognitive mapping
information design
knowledge synthesis
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you ensure diagrams retain essential detail?
- When is a full narrative still necessary?
A Different Perspective
Diagrams may oversimplify nuance or miss depth.
![“Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine is too complicated for all the elements to be able to enter into the analytical comparison we wish to make, we separate the more inconvenient [elements], we…” quote by Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d9/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_able_geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics_6945.jpg)
