--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The chief merit of language is clearness…" description: "\"The chief merit of language is clearness, and we know that nothing detracts so much from this as do unfamiliar terms.\" — Galen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/galen-34937_chiefs_the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness_930359.jpg" --- # The chief merit of language is clearness, and we know that… ![“The chief merit of language is clearness, and we know that nothing detracts so much from this as do unfamiliar terms.” quote by Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/galen-34937_chiefs_the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness_930359.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/galen-34937_chiefs_the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness_930359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/galen-34937_chiefs_the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness_930359.jpg) > “The chief merit of language is clearness, and we know that nothing detracts so much from this as do unfamiliar terms.” [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clarity in language is vital; unfamiliar words obscure meaning. **In simple terms:** Clear language avoids confusion. Key Takeaway Use simple words for better understanding. Themes communication clarity language Mood thoughtful serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - teaching - writing - public speaking - media - education Key Concepts philosophy rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance precision with simplicity? - When is jargon appropriate? A Different Perspective Complex terms can be necessary for precision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) ## Related quotes > [The chief merit of language is clearness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [The chief virtue that language can have is clearness, and nothing detracts from it so much as the use of unfamiliar words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/the-chief-virtue-that-language-can-have-is-clearness-and-nothing/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [The chief virtue that language can have is clarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/the-chief-virtue-that-language-can-have-is-clarity/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [...one can speak with the utmost clearness, and yet not be heard by anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/one-can-speak-with-the-utmost-clearness-and-yet-not-be-heard-by-anyone/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The observance of one commandment, however clearly and forcibly enjoined, cannot make up for the neglect of another which is enjoined with equal clearness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/the-observance-of-one-commandment-however-clearly-and-forcibly/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [Eutrapelia . "A happy and gracious flexibility," Pericles calls this quality of the Athenians...lucidity of thought, clearness and propriety of language, freedom from prejudice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/eutrapelia-a-happy-and-gracious-flexibility-pericles-calls-this/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/some-people-hear-their-own-inner-voices-with-great-clearness-and-they/) [Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/) > [It is not enough that a man has clearness of vision, and reliance on sincerity, he must also have the art of expression, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/it-is-not-enough-that-a-man-has-clearness-of-vision-and-reliance-on/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [“Purity is defined by the clearness of the stars”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-biondi/purity-is-defined-by-the-clearness-of-the-stars/) [Michael Biondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-biondi/) > [The finer the nature, the more flaws it will show through the clearness of it; and it is a law of this universe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-finer-the-nature-the-more-flaws-it-will-show-through-the/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [To see the butcher slap the steak before he laid it on the block, and give his knife a sharpening, was to forget breakfast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/to-see-the-butcher-slap-the-steak-before-he-laid-it-on-the-block-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I believe there are techniques of the human mind whereby, in its dark deep, problems are examined, rejected or accepted. Such activities sometimes concern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-believe-there-are-techniques-of-the-human-mind-whereby-in-its-dark/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [What I mean by the Muse is that unimpeded clearness of the intuitive powers, which a perfectly truthful adherence to every admonition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/what-i-mean-by-the-muse-is-that-unimpeded-clearness-of-the-intuitive/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [Lord, enlighten thou our enemies. Sharpen their wits, give acuteness to their perceptions, and consecutiveness and clearness to their reasoning powers: we are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/lord-enlighten-thou-our-enemies-sharpen-their-wits-give-acuteness-to/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [He was not only, I soon discovered, a water drinker, but a strict vegetarian, to which, perhaps, he owed a great deal of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/he-was-not-only-i-soon-discovered-a-water-drinker-but-a-strict/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) ## More by Galen > [Who Are You? What do you want? Where Are You Going? Who do you serve and who do you trust?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/who-are-you-what-do-you-want-where-are-you-going-who-do-you-serve-and/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [If sometimes dreams come true, what of our nightmares?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/if-sometimes-dreams-come-true-what-of-our-nightmares/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [All animals are sad after coitus except the female human and the rooster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/all-animals-are-sad-after-coitus-except-the-female-human-and-the/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [All who drink of this remedy recover in a short time except those whom it does not help, who all die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/all-who-drink-of-this-remedy-recover-in-a-short-time-except-those/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [After coitus every animal is sad, except the human female and the rooster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/after-coitus-every-animal-is-sad-except-the-human-female-and-the/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [He who has two cakes of bread, let him dispose of one of them for some flowers of the narcissus; for bread is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/he-who-has-two-cakes-of-bread-let-him-dispose-of-one-of-them-for-some/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [A cold and moist brain is an inseparable companion to folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/a-cold-and-moist-brain-is-an-inseparable-companion-to-folly/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [Confidence and hope do more good than physic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/confidence-and-hope-do-more-good-than-physic/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [The physician is only nature's assistant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/the-physician-is-only-nature-s-assistant/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [The chief merit of language is clearness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [Look to the nervous system as the key to maximum health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/look-to-the-nervous-system-as-the-key-to-maximum-health/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [Employment is nature's physician, and is essential to human happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/employment-is-nature-s-physician-and-is-essential-to-human-happiness/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) > [“(Wine is) the nurse of old age.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/wine-is-the-nurse-of-old-age/) [Galen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) [Explore all 14 Galen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/) ## More Chiefs quotes > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [I always wanted to be a fireman, a cop, an Indian chief, a doctor, a lawyer. I always wanted to be all these things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-fireman-a-cop-an-indian-chief-a-doctor-a/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [The chief wonder of education is that it does not ruin everybody concerned in it, teachers and taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-chief-wonder-of-education-is-that-it-does-not-ruin-everybody/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Las Vegas is a resort whose two chief sources of income are seven and eleven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/las-vegas-is-a-resort-whose-two-chief-sources-of-income-are-seven-and/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [There is no one force, no group, and no class that is the preserver of liberty. Liberty is preserved by those who are against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burnham/there-is-no-one-force-no-group-and-no-class-that-is-the-preserver-of/) [James Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-burnham/) > [Remember chief of staff Rahm Emanuel's callous enjoinder 'you never want a serious crisis to go to waste'? This White House is a serious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-tyrrell/remember-chief-of-staff-rahm-emanuel-s-callous-enjoinder-you-never/) [Bob Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-tyrrell/) > [There is a wealth of unexpressed love in the world. It is one of the chief causes of sorrow evoked by death: what might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hopkins/there-is-a-wealth-of-unexpressed-love-in-the-world-it-is-one-of-the/) Arthur Hopkins > [Pure love is the chief manifestation of education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sai-baba/pure-love-is-the-chief-manifestation-of-education/) [Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sai-baba/) > [The chief beneficiary of life insurance policies for young, single people is the life insurance agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-smith/the-chief-beneficiary-of-life-insurance-policies-for-young-single/) [Wes Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-smith/) > [Most of my writer friends are women, and they're all extremely talented, so of course I think the state of contemporary fiction for women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/most-of-my-writer-friends-are-women-and-they-re-all-extremely/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [No commander in chief would ever say, 'I'm not going to listen to the guys on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/no-commander-in-chief-would-ever-say-i-m-not-going-to-listen-to-the/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I'm going to be specific so you can render your verdict. Let's go to North Africa, she was the chief engineer of the disastrous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-m-going-to-be-specific-so-you-can-render-your-verdict-let-s-go-to/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [...virtue is attended by more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more favourable reception from the world. I am sensible, that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/virtue-is-attended-by-more-peace-of-mind-than-vice-and-meets-with-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [When you have the Chief of Staff of the Republican National Committee and the political director of the Romney campaign, and their two companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-caddell/when-you-have-the-chief-of-staff-of-the-republican-national-committee/) [Patrick Caddell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-caddell/) [Browse all 1,428 Chiefs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The chief merit of language is clearness, and we know that nothing detracts so much from this as do unfamiliar terms.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Galen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness-and-we-know-that-nothing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chiefs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness-and-we-know-that-nothing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/galen-34937_chiefs_the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness_930359.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/galen-34937_chiefs_the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness_930359.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/galen-34937_chiefs_the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness_930359.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The chief merit of language is clearness, and we know that nothing detracts so much from this as do…” — Galen", "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": "Galen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The chief merit of language is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness-and-we-know-that-nothing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen/the-chief-merit-of-language-is-clearness-and-we-know-that-nothing/#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 } } ] } ```