--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are occasions when the simplest and…" description: "\"There are occasions when the simplest and fewest words surpass in effect all the wealth of rhetorical amplification.\" — George Henry Lewes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/george-henry-lewes-4544_amplification_there-are-occasions-when-the-simplest-an_1137581.jpg" --- # There are occasions when the simplest and fewest words… ![“There are occasions when the simplest and fewest words surpass in effect all the wealth of rhetorical amplification.” quote by George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/george-henry-lewes-4544_amplification_there-are-occasions-when-the-simplest-an_1137581.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/george-henry-lewes-4544_amplification_there-are-occasions-when-the-simplest-an_1137581.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/george-henry-lewes-4544_amplification_there-are-occasions-when-the-simplest-an_1137581.jpg) > “There are occasions when the simplest and fewest words surpass in effect all the wealth of rhetorical amplification.” [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Simplicity in language can be more persuasive than elaborate rhetoric. **In simple terms:** Simple words can outweigh fancy speech. Key Takeaway Use clear, concise language for impact. Themes communication simplicity persuasion Mood clear concise Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - writing - teaching - marketing Key Concepts rhetoric conciseness effectiveness Questions to Reflect On - When should you choose simplicity over detail? - How does brevity affect credibility? A Different Perspective Over‑simplification may miss nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amplification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amplification/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasions/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [I like twitter it's a challenge to say the most thoughts in the fewest amount of words. Like the Meaning of life Live, learn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/i-like-twitter-it-s-a-challenge-to-say-the-most-thoughts-in-the/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [Women can always put things in fewest words. Except when it's blowing up; and then they lengthens it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/women-can-always-put-things-in-fewest-words-except-when-it-s-blowing/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If you really understand something, you can say it in the fewest words, instead of thrashing about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/if-you-really-understand-something-you-can-say-it-in-the-fewest-words/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“The words are few, and the sentence short; no one in Scripture so short. But it fareth with Sentences as with coynes : In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lancelot-andrewes/the-words-are-few-and-the-sentence-short-no-one-in-scripture-so-short/) [Lancelot Andrewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lancelot-andrewes/) > [Sometimes the saddest stories take the fewest words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/sometimes-the-saddest-stories-take-the-fewest-words/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Short stories and some short novels are close to poetry--with the fewest words they capture the essence of a situation, of a human being.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-berriault/short-stories-and-some-short-novels-are-close-to-poetry-with-the/) [Gina Berriault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-berriault/) > [Men who have much to say use the fewest words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/men-who-have-much-to-say-use-the-fewest-words/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Much wisdom often goes with fewest words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/much-wisdom-often-goes-with-fewest-words/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [When a human being without amplification makes a sound that is high and loud, it is almost unworldly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/when-a-human-being-without-amplification-makes-a-sound-that-is-high/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I love the whole kind of notion of transformation for me is (what) excites me about not only acting, but storytelling. I love, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-love-the-whole-kind-of-notion-of-transformation-for-me-is-what/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [Madness is only an amplification of what you already are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/madness-is-only-an-amplification-of-what-you-already-are/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I was never afraid on stage. That's where I was the least afraid. I could just do what I do and I had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/i-was-never-afraid-on-stage-that-s-where-i-was-the-least-afraid-i/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [I attach the greatest importance to an amplification of the peace efforts in the Middle East. I would also like to see a greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/i-attach-the-greatest-importance-to-an-amplification-of-the-peace/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [I was playing with steel picks on a steel guitar, and there was no amplification needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brownie-mcghee/i-was-playing-with-steel-picks-on-a-steel-guitar-and-there-was-no/) [Brownie McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brownie-mcghee/) > [Rock music is electronic music, dependent entirely on electronic circuitry and amplification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/rock-music-is-electronic-music-dependent-entirely-on-electronic/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) ## More by George Henry Lewes > [Heart and Brain are the two lords of life. In the metaphors of ordinary speech and in the stricter language of science, we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/heart-and-brain-are-the-two-lords-of-life-in-the-metaphors-of/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [It is unhappily true that much insincere Literature and Art, executed solely with a view to effect, does succeed by deceiving the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/it-is-unhappily-true-that-much-insincere-literature-and-art-executed/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [I have always considered The Merry Wives one of the worst plays, if not altogether the worst, that Shakespeare has left us. The wit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/i-have-always-considered-the-merry-wives-one-of-the-worst-plays-if/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [Literature is at once the cause and the effect of social progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/literature-is-at-once-the-cause-and-the-effect-of-social-progress/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [Science is the systematic classification of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/science-is-the-systematic-classification-of-experience/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [In complex trains of thought signs are indispensable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/in-complex-trains-of-thought-signs-are-indispensable/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [Literature is at once the cause and the effect of social progress. It deepens our natural sensibilities, and strengthens by exercise our intellectual capacities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/literature-is-at-once-the-cause-and-the-effect-of-social-progress-it/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [If you feel yourself to be above the mass, speak so as to raise the mass to the height of your argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/if-you-feel-yourself-to-be-above-the-mass-speak-so-as-to-raise-the/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [The artist is called a creator...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/the-artist-is-called-a-creator/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [To some men popularity is always suspicious. Enjoying none themselves, they are prone to suspect the validity of those attainments which command it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/to-some-men-popularity-is-always-suspicious-enjoying-none-themselves/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [The art of writing is not, as many seem to imagine, the art of bringing fine phrases into rhythmical order, but the art of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/the-art-of-writing-is-not-as-many-seem-to-imagine-the-art-of-bringing/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [Literature delivers tidings of the world within and the world without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/literature-delivers-tidings-of-the-world-within-and-the-world-without/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [If the members of a class do not understand -- if those directly addressed fail to listen, or listening, fail to recognize a power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/if-the-members-of-a-class-do-not-understand-if-those-directly/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [No man was ever eloquent by trying to be eloquent, but only by being so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/no-man-was-ever-eloquent-by-trying-to-be-eloquent-but-only-by-being-so/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [To love is for the Soul to choose a companion, and travel with it along the perilous defiles and winding ways of life; mutually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/to-love-is-for-the-soul-to-choose-a-companion-and-travel-with-it/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) [Explore all 109 George Henry Lewes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) ## More Amplification quotes > [Rock music is electronic music, dependent entirely on electronic circuitry and amplification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/rock-music-is-electronic-music-dependent-entirely-on-electronic/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [I was playing with steel picks on a steel guitar, and there was no amplification needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brownie-mcghee/i-was-playing-with-steel-picks-on-a-steel-guitar-and-there-was-no/) [Brownie McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brownie-mcghee/) > [I attach the greatest importance to an amplification of the peace efforts in the Middle East. I would also like to see a greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/i-attach-the-greatest-importance-to-an-amplification-of-the-peace/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [I was never afraid on stage. That's where I was the least afraid. I could just do what I do and I had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/i-was-never-afraid-on-stage-that-s-where-i-was-the-least-afraid-i/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [Madness is only an amplification of what you already are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/madness-is-only-an-amplification-of-what-you-already-are/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I love the whole kind of notion of transformation for me is (what) excites me about not only acting, but storytelling. I love, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-love-the-whole-kind-of-notion-of-transformation-for-me-is-what/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [When a human being without amplification makes a sound that is high and loud, it is almost unworldly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/when-a-human-being-without-amplification-makes-a-sound-that-is-high/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [If all history is only an amplification of biography, the history of science may be most instructively read in the life and work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-geikie/if-all-history-is-only-an-amplification-of-biography-the-history-of/) Archibald Geikie > [Some of the most remarkable and profound worship encounters I've experienced have happened in churches with no production, no lighting, no exciting visuals or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hughes/some-of-the-most-remarkable-and-profound-worship-encounters-i-ve/) [Tim Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hughes/) > [ “\[T\]he relentless note of incipient hysteria, the invitation to panic, the ungrounded scenarios--the overwhelming and underlying desire for something truly terrible to happen so… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gopnik/t-he-relentless-note-of-incipient-hysteria-the-invitation-to-panic/) [Adam Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gopnik/) > [The art of reasoning becomes of first importance. In this line antiquity has left us the finest models for imitation; I should consider the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-art-of-reasoning-becomes-of-first-importance-in-this-line/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [What I really like about Cuba is that you can go into a local bar in a provincial town and you'll get jazz played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/what-i-really-like-about-cuba-is-that-you-can-go-into-a-local-bar-in/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [Amplification of guitars revolutionized the popular music scene. Youngsters look for quick fame and big money with amplified guitars and working with rock groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/amplification-of-guitars-revolutionized-the-popular-music-scene/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [To wade in marshes and sea margins is the destiny of certain bird, and they are so accurately made for this that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-wade-in-marshes-and-sea-margins-is-the-destiny-of-certain-bird-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The relation of repetitions for learning and for repeating English stanzas needs no amplification. These were learned by heart on the first day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-ebbinghaus/the-relation-of-repetitions-for-learning-and-for-repeating-english/) [Hermann Ebbinghaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-ebbinghaus/) [Browse all 36 Amplification quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amplification/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are occasions when the simplest and fewest words surpass in effect all the wealth of rhetorical amplification.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Henry Lewes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/there-are-occasions-when-the-simplest-and-fewest-words-surpass-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amplification" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/there-are-occasions-when-the-simplest-and-fewest-words-surpass-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/george-henry-lewes-4544_amplification_there-are-occasions-when-the-simplest-an_1137581.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/george-henry-lewes-4544_amplification_there-are-occasions-when-the-simplest-an_1137581.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/george-henry-lewes-4544_amplification_there-are-occasions-when-the-simplest-an_1137581.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are occasions when the simplest and fewest words surpass in effect all the wealth of rhetorical…” — George Henry Lewes", "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": "George Henry Lewes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are occasions when the simplest...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/there-are-occasions-when-the-simplest-and-fewest-words-surpass-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/there-are-occasions-when-the-simplest-and-fewest-words-surpass-in/#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 } } ] } ```