--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An intellectual is a man who takes more…" description: "\"An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.\" — Dwight D. Eisenhower" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/dwight-d-eisenhower-499_intellectual_an-intellectual-is-a-man-who-takes-more_2789232.jpg" --- # An intellectual is a man who takes more words than… ![“An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.” quote by Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/dwight-d-eisenhower-499_intellectual_an-intellectual-is-a-man-who-takes-more_2789232.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/dwight-d-eisenhower-499_intellectual_an-intellectual-is-a-man-who-takes-more_2789232.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/dwight-d-eisenhower-499_intellectual_an-intellectual-is-a-man-who-takes-more_2789232.jpg) > “An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.” [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An intellectual overcomplicates communication, using excess words to convey limited knowledge. **In simple terms:** Overusing words to hide lack of knowledge. Key Takeaway Speak concisely and clearly. Themes communication intellectual humility clarity Mood analytical reflective Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - academic lectures - business meetings - media interviews Key Concepts philosophy education critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - When have you over‑explained a simple idea? - How can you simplify complex concepts? A Different Perspective Complex language can alienate audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [To be surprised, to wonder, is to begin to understand. This is the sport, the luxury, special to the intellectual man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/to-be-surprised-to-wonder-is-to-begin-to-understand-this-is-the-sport/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [The intellectual, the man of thought, doubt and analysis, should give the best of himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahar-ben-jelloun/the-intellectual-the-man-of-thought-doubt-and-analysis-should-give/) [Tahar Ben Jelloun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahar-ben-jelloun/) > [It's not necessary to tell all you know. It's not ladylike--in the second place, folks don't like to have somebody around knowin' more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/it-s-not-necessary-to-tell-all-you-know-it-s-not-ladylike-in-the-2/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [I am a very private person. No one ever knows anything about me as I don't think it is necessary. I tell people as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/i-am-a-very-private-person-no-one-ever-knows-anything-about-me-as-i/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [It's not necessary to tell all you know. It's not ladylike -- in the second place, folks don't like to have someone around knowin'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/it-s-not-necessary-to-tell-all-you-know-it-s-not-ladylike-in-the/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [It's not necessary to tell all you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/it-s-not-necessary-to-tell-all-you-know/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [I don't speak about rumours every day in the press, because it's not necessary to tell everybody the same answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-don-t-speak-about-rumours-every-day-in-the-press-because-it-s-not/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [Before repeating something bad about another person, ask yourself these three questions: Is it true? Is it necessary for me to tell it? Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-l-allen/before-repeating-something-bad-about-another-person-ask-yourself/) [Charles L. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-l-allen/) > [“Your life changes sometimes and it only takes a few words to bridge the gap between now and then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-murphy-side-effects-may-vary/your-life-changes-sometimes-and-it-only-takes-a-few-words-to-bridge/) [Julie Murphy-Side Effects May Vary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-murphy-side-effects-may-vary/) > [It takes few words to tell the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/it-takes-few-words-to-tell-the-truth/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [It takes only a few words to hurt, but it takes more than words to heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-only-a-few-words-to-hurt-but-it-takes-more-than-words-to-heal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes it only takes three words, so long as they're the right words, to direct an actor in the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-leconte/sometimes-it-only-takes-three-words-so-long-as-they-re-the-right/) [Patrice Leconte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-leconte/) > [THE TRUTH IS FLAT OUT IN YOUR FACE AND TAKES VERY FEW WORDS TO TELL IT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-paul-rose/the-truth-is-flat-out-in-your-face-and-takes-very-few-words-to-tell-it/) [LEONARD PAUL ROSE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-paul-rose/) > [“I don’t want to say that I believe in God. Rather, I want to live out my life like I believe in God because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-don-t-want-to-say-that-i-believe-in-god-rather-i-want-to-live-out/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Sometimes, when you see a person cry, it's better not to ask why. Sometimes it takes only three words to make them happy again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-when-you-see-a-person-cry-it-s-better-not-to-ask-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Dwight D. Eisenhower > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/every-gun-that-is-made-every-warship-launched-every-rocket-fired/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [We have won an armistice on a single battlefield, not peace in our world. We may not now relax our guard nor cease our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/we-have-won-an-armistice-on-a-single-battlefield-not-peace-in-our/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [With a full century of contrary proof in our possession and despite our demonstrated capacity for cooperative teamwork, some among us seem to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/with-a-full-century-of-contrary-proof-in-our-possession-and-despite/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Things are more like they are now than they ever were before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/things-are-more-like-they-are-now-than-they-ever-were-before/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/soldiers-sailors-and-airmen-of-the-allied-expeditionary-force-you-are/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/don-t-join-the-book-burners-don-t-think-you-re-going-to-conceal/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Knowledge-full, unfettered knowledge of its own heritage, of freedom's enemies, of the whole world of men and ideas-this knowledge is a free people's surest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/knowledge-full-unfettered-knowledge-of-its-own-heritage-of-freedom-s/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Any nations right to a form of government and economic system of its own choosing is inalienable. Any nations attempt to dictate to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/any-nations-right-to-a-form-of-government-and-economic-system-of-its/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The peace we seek, founded upon decent trust and cooperation among nations, can be fortified not by weapons of war but by wheat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-peace-we-seek-founded-upon-decent-trust-and-cooperation-among/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The only way to win World War III is to prevent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-only-way-to-win-world-war-iii-is-to-prevent-it/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [I’m going to pass a law that no one can ask me my golf score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/i-m-going-to-pass-a-law-that-no-one-can-ask-me-my-golf-score/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [For all that we cherish and justly desire - for ourselves or for our children - the securing of peace is the first requisite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/for-all-that-we-cherish-and-justly-desire-for-ourselves-or-for-our/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Never waste a minute thinking about people you don't like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/never-waste-a-minute-thinking-about-people-you-don-t-like/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Do not needlessly endanger your lives until I give you the signal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/do-not-needlessly-endanger-your-lives-until-i-give-you-the-signal/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) [Explore all 515 Dwight D. Eisenhower quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) ## More Intellectual quotes > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Today it is the skeptics who are the social conformists, though because of powerful intellectual propaganda they continue to enjoy thinking of themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/today-it-is-the-skeptics-who-are-the-social-conformists-though/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [Love isn't intellectual - it's visceral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgillis/love-isn-t-intellectual-it-s-visceral/) [Kelly McGillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgillis/) > [Faith is the avenue to salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Laughter is one of the great beacons in life because we don't refract it by gunning it through our intellectual prism. What makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/laughter-is-one-of-the-great-beacons-in-life-because-we-don-t-refract/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [Unfortunately, moral beauty in art - like physical beauty in a person - is extremely perishable. It is nowhere so durable as artistic or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/unfortunately-moral-beauty-in-art-like-physical-beauty-in-a-person-is/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [ \[Our understanding is\] not intellectual, but instinctive. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-richards/our-understanding-is-not-intellectual-but-instinctive/) [Ann Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-richards/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [It only takes a day to change someone from an anti-intellectual to an intellectual by persuading him that he might be one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-land/it-only-takes-a-day-to-change-someone-from-an-anti-intellectual-to-an/) [Edwin Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-land/) > [Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/our-guiding-principle-was-that-design-is-neither-an-intellectual-nor/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [This film business, perhaps more so in America than in Europe, has always been about young sexuality. 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