Character Quote by Francois Fenelon
“We must avoid fastidiousness; neatness, when it is moderate, is a virtue; but when it is carried to an extreme, it narrows the mind.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: “The Maxims of the Court” by Francois Fenelon, 1680
Moderate neatness is virtuous; excess narrows thinking.
In simple terms: Moderation in neatness is good.
Key Takeaway
Balance order with openness.
Themes
moderation
order
mindset
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- workplace organization
- creative processes
- personal habits
Key Concepts
virtue ethics
cognitive flexibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How does extreme neatness limit ideas?
- When is disorder beneficial?
A Different Perspective
Rigidity may hinder innovation.
![“[...] the diversity of our opinions, consequently, does not arise from some being endowed with a larger share of reason than others, but solely from this, that we conduct our thoughts along different ways, and do not fix our attention on the same objects. For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is…” quote by René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7cf/ren-descartes-1376_different-ways_the-diversity-of-our-opinions-consequent_1632114.jpg)
