--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fourth is there just to keep them in…" description: "\"“The fourth is there just to keep them in order because three of anything is bound to get messy.”\" — Ella Frank" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/ella-frank-1142_quote_the-fourth-is-there-just-to-keep-them-in_977196.jpg" --- # The fourth is there just to keep them in order because… ![“The fourth is there just to keep them in order because three of anything is bound to get messy.” quote by Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/ella-frank-1142_quote_the-fourth-is-there-just-to-keep-them-in_977196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/ella-frank-1142_quote_the-fourth-is-there-just-to-keep-them-in_977196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/ella-frank-1142_quote_the-fourth-is-there-just-to-keep-them-in_977196.jpg) > ““The fourth is there just to keep them in order because three of anything is bound to get messy.”” [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Three items tend to become chaotic; a fourth provides necessary structure and order. **In simple terms:** A fourth element brings order to three messy ones. Key Takeaway Add a stabilizing factor when things get chaotic. Themes order structure balance complexity Mood analytical pragmatic Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - team management - project planning - product design Key Concepts systems theory organizational design Questions to Reflect On - When is adding structure counterproductive? - How can you maintain flexibility while imposing order? A Different Perspective Over-reliance on a fourth may stifle flexibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bound Messy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bound-messy-1915474/) [Fourth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fourth/) [Fourth Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fourth-just-1915473/) [Messy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messy/) [Order Bound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order-bound-1915475/) ## Related quotes > [Writers have the purity of their art and what they want to achieve with that, and that this purity is bound up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/writers-have-the-purity-of-their-art-and-what-they-want-to-achieve/) [Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/) > [“Living is messy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/living-is-messy/) [woody allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“Don't cry over the same thing twice. Get it all out the first time, even if it's loud and messy. 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It takes time build, but only seconds to destroy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-tiger/relationships-are-messy-and-painful-and-hard-to-maintain-it-takes/) [Alexis Tiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-tiger/) > [Any replacement to the current copyright position (life plus 70 years) needs to have an answer lined up for this, and similar, messy edge cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/any-replacement-to-the-current-copyright-position-life-plus-70-years/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [People are messy and complex, particularly in the homosexual world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/people-are-messy-and-complex-particularly-in-the-homosexual-world/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [ The parts of the \[Civil Right\] Movement we recognize so well now were not born from a single decision, but were a complicated and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-aydin/the-parts-of-the-civil-right-movement-we-recognize-so-well-now-were/) [Andrew Aydin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-aydin/) > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [I'd think the house was the source of great sadness or pressure. I knew it wasn't. I knew it was just where I lived.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-granduciel/i-d-think-the-house-was-the-source-of-great-sadness-or-pressure-i/) [Adam Granduciel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-granduciel/) > [“It’s the difference between dancing along the eggshell crust of acquaintance and diving into the messy center of a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-the-difference-between-dancing-along-the-eggshell-crust-of/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More by Ella Frank > [“Logan thought about it for a moment and then asked, “How about Whipped?” Tate’s eyes opened and he looked slightly shocked. “I know I’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/logan-thought-about-it-for-a-moment-and-then-asked-how-about-whipped/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“You look like someone who’s discovered a new species of human”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/you-look-like-someone-who-s-discovered-a-new-species-of-human/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“Damn. You’re just begging for it today, aren’t you?” Tate’s cheeks flushed at the words, and his sex-hazed eyes were heavy as he slowly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/damn-you-re-just-begging-for-it-today-aren-t-you-tate-s-cheeks/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“Tell me, do you have Tate waiting naked for me in my office? Because that would really be the perfect way to thank me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/tell-me-do-you-have-tate-waiting-naked-for-me-in-my-office-because/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“I want to see you again,” I told him. “I want you to see me.” “Trust me, I do see you,” he stressed. “You’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/i-want-to-see-you-again-i-told-him-i-want-you-to-see-me-trust-me-i-do/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“Thank you. Thank you for raising my best friend. For raising the best man I have ever met.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/thank-you-thank-you-for-raising-my-best-friend-for-raising-the-best/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“Suck me, Rachel. Put those sticky lips around my cock and suck it good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/suck-me-rachel-put-those-sticky-lips-around-my-cock-and-suck-it-good/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“I believe in fate and I believe you were supposed to walk into my life, so Mason could walk into yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/i-believe-in-fate-and-i-believe-you-were-supposed-to-walk-into-my/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“Thank you for my surprise. Now, I won't be able to eat a caramel without thinking about being balls deep inside your sweet, warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/thank-you-for-my-surprise-now-i-won-t-be-able-to-eat-a-caramel/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“She is the mystery that is wrapped tightly around the man I am trying so desperately to unravel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/she-is-the-mystery-that-is-wrapped-tightly-around-the-man-i-am-trying/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“Addison's mouth was sweet, and her body..it was fucking sinful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/addison-s-mouth-was-sweet-and-her-body-it-was-fucking-sinful/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“Josh: "Are you really going to sit there and pretend that I don't exist?" Shel: "I'm not pretending you don't exist. In fact, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/josh-are-you-really-going-to-sit-there-and-pretend-that-i-don-t-exist/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“Ahh… So good, Tate,” Logan said as he jacked his hips forward, his dick sliding through Tate’s fist. “You’re so sexy,” Tate whispered. “The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/ahh-so-good-tate-logan-said-as-he-jacked-his-hips-forward-his-dick/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“I don't know what it is you see, and I don't know what you're feeling, but when you bring her between us, something happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-you-see-and-i-don-t-know-what-you-re-feeling/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“And if you want to scream her name out when my cock is fucking you, you scream it, right into my ear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/and-if-you-want-to-scream-her-name-out-when-my-cock-is-fucking-you/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) [Explore all 282 Ella Frank quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) ## More Fourth quotes > [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Of course I want to be on the floor in the fourth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivica-zubac/of-course-i-want-to-be-on-the-floor-in-the-fourth/) [Ivica Zubac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivica-zubac/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I need a fourth belt. It would mean a lot to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitry-bivol/i-need-a-fourth-belt-it-would-mean-a-lot-to-me/) [Dmitry Bivol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitry-bivol/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Leadership is about three-fourths show-the-way and about one-fourth follow-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/leadership-is-about-three-fourths-show-the-way-and-about-one-fourth/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [I believe in second chances, but I don't believe in third or fourth chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-believe-in-second-chances-but-i-don-t-believe-in-third-or-fourth/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [Everybody either wanted to take care of me or push me around, you know? I was teased a lot, sure I was, of course.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-hunt/everybody-either-wanted-to-take-care-of-me-or-push-me-around-you-know/) [Linda Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-hunt/) > [I just always loved mythology, ever since I was a kid. Greek mythology was something I remember learning about in fourth grade, and Egypt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-larson/i-just-always-loved-mythology-ever-since-i-was-a-kid-greek-mythology/) [Brie Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-larson/) > [Our opponents see an America in which every day is April 15, tax day. Well, we see an America in which every day is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-opponents-see-an-america-in-which-every-day-is-april-15-tax-day/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [But it is impossible to divide a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into fourth powers, or generally any power beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/but-it-is-impossible-to-divide-a-cube-into-two-cubes-or-a-fourth/) [Pierre de Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) > [The press is the fourth estate of the realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-press-is-the-fourth-estate-of-the-realm/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [... and she held out a pretty gold ring. 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They will find a fourth, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-will-be-three-cats-kin-of-your-kin-with-the-power-of-the-stars/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 862 Fourth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fourth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The fourth is there just to keep them in order because three of anything is bound to get messy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ella Frank" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/the-fourth-is-there-just-to-keep-them-in-order-because-three-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fourth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/the-fourth-is-there-just-to-keep-them-in-order-because-three-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/ella-frank-1142_quote_the-fourth-is-there-just-to-keep-them-in_977196.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/ella-frank-1142_quote_the-fourth-is-there-just-to-keep-them-in_977196.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/ella-frank-1142_quote_the-fourth-is-there-just-to-keep-them-in_977196.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The fourth is there just to keep them in order because three of anything is bound to get messy.” — Ella Frank", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ella Frank", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The fourth is there just to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/the-fourth-is-there-just-to-keep-them-in-order-because-three-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/the-fourth-is-there-just-to-keep-them-in-order-because-three-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```