Critics Quote by Edmund Burke
“Is it in destroying and pulling down that skill is displayed? The shallowest understanding, the rudest hand, is more than equal to that task.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents, 1790
Skill is shown by dismantling, not just building; even a crude approach can succeed if the task is simple.
In simple terms: Even simple effort can work if the job is easy.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when a simple method suffices.
Themes
skill
simplicity
effort
assessment
Mood
pragmatic
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- craftsmanship
- basic tasks
- learning by doing
- problem solving
Key Concepts
pragmatism
handicraft
competence
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a simple method insufficient?
- How to know when to apply a more sophisticated technique?
A Different Perspective
Complex tasks may need deeper understanding beyond a rudimentary approach.
![“Nearly all the writing of our time is likely to disappear in a hundred years. Certainly most readers - and nearly all critics - feel that [Kurt] Vonnegut started to repeat himself, to grow increasingly self-indulgent and meandering, and to sometimes just blather in his later work. But his books up…” quote by Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ed7/michael-dirda-3414_1960s_nearly-all-the-writing-of-our-time-is-li_13506.jpg)