Argument Quote by George Polya
“To write and speak correctly is certainly necessary; but it is not sufficient. A derivation correctly presented in the book or on the blackboard may be inaccessible and uninstructive, if the purpose of the successive steps is incomprehensible, if the reader or listener cannot understand how it was humanly possible to find such an argument…”
About This Quote
Source Book: Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning, 1949
Effective communication requires clarity and relevance; presenting correct derivations without understandable purpose fails to teach.
In simple terms: Clear steps must be understandable and purposeful.
Key Takeaway
Ensure explanations link purpose to audience.
Themes
communication
education
clarity
Mood
thoughtful
instructive
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- teaching
- lecture
- writing
- public speaking
- training
Key Concepts
pedagogy
purpose
accessibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you make each step's goal explicit?
- What analogies help convey abstract reasoning?
A Different Perspective
Even correct logic is useless if the audience cannot grasp its relevance.
![“Pedantry and mastery are opposite attitudes toward rules. To apply a rule to the letter, rigidly, unquestioningly, in cases where it fits and in cases where it does not fit, is pedantry. [...] To apply a rule with natural ease, with judgment, noticing the cases where it fits, and without ever…” quote by George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/927/george-polya-10766_action_pedantry-and-mastery-are-opposite-attitu_112396.jpg)
