--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True eloquence consists in saying all…" description: "\"True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_eloquence_true-eloquence-consists-in-saying-all-th_1533388.png" --- # True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said… ![“True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_eloquence_true-eloquence-consists-in-saying-all-th_1533388.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_eloquence_true-eloquence-consists-in-saying-all-th_1533388.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_eloquence_true-eloquence-consists-in-saying-all-th_1533388.png) > “True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only.” [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True eloquence means expressing exactly what is necessary and nothing superfluous. **In simple terms:** Speak only what matters. Key Takeaway Be concise and purposeful. Themes communication clarity brevity Mood thoughtful serene Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - writing - teaching - negotiation Key Concepts rhetoric essentialism Questions to Reflect On - When have you spoken too much? - How can you ensure every word adds value? A Different Perspective May omit nuance or emotion when brevity is over‑emphasized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consists Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consists-saying-1140967/) [Eloquence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eloquence/) [Eloquence Consists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eloquence-consists-1140965/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [Saying Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-said-3358643/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Sports psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports-psychology/) [True Eloquence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-eloquence-1140964/) ## Related quotes > [True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary, and nothing but what is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/true-eloquence-consists-in-saying-all-that-is-necessary-and-nothing/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [True eloquence forgoes eloquence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/true-eloquence-forgoes-eloquence/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [“True eloquence is irresistible. It charms by its images of beauty, it enforces an argument by its vehement simplicity. Orators whose speeches are "full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellery-bergh/true-eloquence-is-irresistible-it-charms-by-its-images-of-beauty-it/) [Albert Ellery Bergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellery-bergh/) > [La vraie e loquence se moque de l'e loquence, la vraie morale se moque de la morale. True eloquence has notime foreloquence, true morality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/la-vraie-e-loquence-se-moque-de-l-e-loquence-la-vraie-morale-se-moque/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [True eloquence makes light of eloquence. True morality makes light of morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/true-eloquence-makes-light-of-eloquence-true-morality-makes-light-of-2/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Flatulency today consists in saying simply in several different ways the same thing over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-seidel-canby/flatulency-today-consists-in-saying-simply-in-several-different-ways/) [Henry Seidel Canby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-seidel-canby/) > [“Did I say that?” he asked, and then added in so low a voice that Alice could not hear what he was saying, “If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-beaton/did-i-say-that-he-asked-and-then-added-in-so-low-a-voice-that-alice/) [M.C. Beaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-beaton/) > [Baby Would you believe me if I say that every night I dream about you Or you just walk away leaving me cold blooded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aksh/baby-would-you-believe-me-if-i-say-that-every-night-i-dream-about-you/) [Aksh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aksh/) > [You have to say, whatever it is that I say or do or think or teach must be something that will be consistent with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/you-have-to-say-whatever-it-is-that-i-say-or-do-or-think-or-teach/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“It ain’t what you think, m’lady,” Samuel hastened to say. “I would have retuned the purse before the carriage drove off, truly I would.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/it-ain-t-what-you-think-m-lady-samuel-hastened-to-say-i-would-have/) [Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/) > [“If I say it, will you say it too?" I asked, swallowing hard, even though my mouth was dry. I willed him silently not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/if-i-say-it-will-you-say-it-too-i-asked-swallowing-hard-even-though/) [N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/) > [“Whatever is he saying?" said a voice, very near, distinct and shrill through the warblings of the Super-Wurlitzer. The Savage violently started and, uncovering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/whatever-is-he-saying-said-a-voice-very-near-distinct-and-shrill/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [True eloquence scorns eloquence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/true-eloquence-scorns-eloquence/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“Anyone who has received from God the gift of knowledge and true eloquence has a duty not to remain silent”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-de-france/anyone-who-has-received-from-god-the-gift-of-knowledge-and-true/) [Marie de France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-de-france/) > [Genuine laughter is true eloquence and more effective than speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/genuine-laughter-is-true-eloquence-and-more-effective-than-speech/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More Eloquence quotes > [There should be in eloquence that which is pleasing and that which is real; but that which is pleasing should itself be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-should-be-in-eloquence-that-which-is-pleasing-and-that-which-is/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [ \[T\]here are, at bottom, basically two ways to order social affairs, Coercively, through the mechanisms of the state - what we can call political… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-crane/t-here-are-at-bottom-basically-two-ways-to-order-social-affairs/) [Ed Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-crane/) > [Drudgery, calamity, exasperation, want, are instructors in eloquence and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/drudgery-calamity-exasperation-want-are-instructors-in-eloquence-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Among all the valuable things of this world, the word is the most precious. For in the word one can find a light which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/among-all-the-valuable-things-of-this-world-the-word-is-the-most/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [“Your goodness must have some edge to it -- else it is none.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/your-goodness-must-have-some-edge-to-it-else-it-is-none/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Forensics is eloquence and reduction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/forensics-is-eloquence-and-reduction/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“What is called eloquence in the forum is commonly found to be rhetoric in the study.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-is-called-eloquence-in-the-forum-is-commonly-found-to-be/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Eloquence is the appropriate organ of the highest personal energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/eloquence-is-the-appropriate-organ-of-the-highest-personal-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Philosophy may be dodged, eloquence cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-quinet/philosophy-may-be-dodged-eloquence-cannot/) [Edgar Quinet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-quinet/) > [Eloquence is a painting of thought; and thus those who, after having painted it, add something more, make a picture instead of a portrait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/eloquence-is-a-painting-of-thought-and-thus-those-who-after-having/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The notion of directing a film is the invention of critics - the whole eloquence of cinema is achieved in the editing room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-notion-of-directing-a-film-is-the-invention-of-critics-the-whole/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your eloquence should be the servant of the ideas in your head. Your rule might be this: If a sentence, no matter how excellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/your-eloquence-should-be-the-servant-of-the-ideas-in-your-head-your/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Eloquence is relative. One can no more pronounce on the eloquence of any composition than the wholesomeness of a medicine, without knowing for whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/eloquence-is-relative-one-can-no-more-pronounce-on-the-eloquence-of/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [ It is true that despite occasional gleams of Churchillian eloquence he \[Gen. Douglas MacArthur\] usually spoke poorly. He was far more effective in conversations… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-manchester/it-is-true-that-despite-occasional-gleams-of-churchillian-eloquence/) [William Manchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-manchester/) [Browse all 439 Eloquence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eloquence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/true-eloquence-consists-in-saying-all-that-should-be-said-and-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Eloquence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/true-eloquence-consists-in-saying-all-that-should-be-said-and-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_eloquence_true-eloquence-consists-in-saying-all-th_1533388.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_eloquence_true-eloquence-consists-in-saying-all-th_1533388.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_eloquence_true-eloquence-consists-in-saying-all-th_1533388.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only.” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "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": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "True eloquence consists in saying all...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/true-eloquence-consists-in-saying-all-that-should-be-said-and-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/true-eloquence-consists-in-saying-all-that-should-be-said-and-that/#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 } } ] } ```