--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you can express yourself so as to be…" description: "\"If you can express yourself so as to be perfectly understood in ten words, never use a dozen.\" — Horace Mann" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/horace-mann-2022_dozen_if-you-can-express-yourself-so-as-to-be_2170212.png" --- # If you can express yourself so as to be perfectly… ![“If you can express yourself so as to be perfectly understood in ten words, never use a dozen.” quote by Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/horace-mann-2022_dozen_if-you-can-express-yourself-so-as-to-be_2170212.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/horace-mann-2022_dozen_if-you-can-express-yourself-so-as-to-be_2170212.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/horace-mann-2022_dozen_if-you-can-express-yourself-so-as-to-be_2170212.png) > “If you can express yourself so as to be perfectly understood in ten words, never use a dozen.” [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clear, concise communication is more effective than overly wordy expression. **In simple terms:** Speak clearly, avoid unnecessary words. Key Takeaway Prefer brevity for clarity. Themes communication education clarity efficiency writing Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type advisory educational When to use this quote - classroom instruction - public speaking - business presentations - writing workshops Key Concepts rhetoric linguistics cognitive load Questions to Reflect On - When is brevity harmful? - How do you balance clarity and depth? A Different Perspective Over-simplification may omit nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dozen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dozen/) [Express Perfectly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/express-perfectly-4643871/) [Express yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/express-yourself/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Perfectly Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectly-understood-1795069/) [Ten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten/) [Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood/) [Understood Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood-words-507190/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Dozen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-dozen-4643870/) ## Related quotes > [We have at last ascertained that miracles can be perfectly understood; that there is nothing mysterious about them; that they are simply transparent falsehoods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/we-have-at-last-ascertained-that-miracles-can-be-perfectly-understood/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Grammar, perfectly understood, enables us not only to express our meaning fully and clearly, but so to express it as to enable us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/grammar-perfectly-understood-enables-us-not-only-to-express-our/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [“and to know, by his ironical eyes, that he perfectly well understood the reason of her unusual meekness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/and-to-know-by-his-ironical-eyes-that-he-perfectly-well-understood/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“But her little white thin hand lay in mine; and we understood each other without words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/but-her-little-white-thin-hand-lay-in-mine-and-we-understood-each/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [The words of the scholar are to be understood. The words of the master are not to be understood. They are to be listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-words-of-the-scholar-are-to-be-understood-the-words-of-the-master/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“We knew the difference between that which cannot be expressed and that which must. We understood that while words are a path taking us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bynum/we-knew-the-difference-between-that-which-cannot-be-expressed-and/) [Laura Bynum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bynum/) > [“There are things known—things experienced, felt, and understood—that words hold no power to convey. Attempting to do so only dilutes their substance and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/there-are-things-known-things-experienced-felt-and-understood-that/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Men have never understood the words of the wise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/men-have-never-understood-the-words-of-the-wise/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-all-the-people-went-their-way-to-eat-and-to-drink-and-to-send/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Music was known and understood before words were spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/music-was-known-and-understood-before-words-were-spoken/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [If we are understood, more words are unnecessary; if we are not likely to be understood, they are useless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ii-of-england/if-we-are-understood-more-words-are-unnecessary-if-we-are-not-likely/) [Charles II of England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-ii-of-england/) > [Dreams - Language in a dream is unspoken but understood. Words get in the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-alan-wolf/dreams-language-in-a-dream-is-unspoken-but-understood-words-get-in/) [Fred Alan Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-alan-wolf/) > [Being stylish is about enjoying your life and expressing yourself and your inner light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/being-stylish-is-about-enjoying-your-life-and-expressing-yourself-and/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [When the world knows you for doing something, and what is inside of you is a bit different, it seems overwhelming at first to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sky-blu/when-the-world-knows-you-for-doing-something-and-what-is-inside-of/) [Sky Blu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sky-blu/) > [For me, growing up in hip-hop culture, it's all about having the next style, the new fashion, the new way to express yourself, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/for-me-growing-up-in-hip-hop-culture-it-s-all-about-having-the-next/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) ## More by Horace Mann > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [The earth endured Christ's ministry only three years;--not three weeks after his real character and purposes were generally known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-earth-endured-christ-s-ministry-only-three-years-not-three-weeks/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [If evil is inevitable, how are the wicked accountable? Nay, why do we call men wicked at all? Evil is inevitable, but is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/if-evil-is-inevitable-how-are-the-wicked-accountable-nay-why-do-we/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [The soul of the truly benevolent man does not seem to reside much in his own body. Its life, to a great extent, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-soul-of-the-truly-benevolent-man-does-not-seem-to-reside-much-in/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [The pulpit only "teaches" to be honest; the market-place "trains" to overreaching and fraud; and teaching has not a tithe of the efficiency of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-pulpit-only-teaches-to-be-honest-the-market-place-trains-to/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [On entering this world our starting-point is ignorance. None, however, but idiots remain there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/on-entering-this-world-our-starting-point-is-ignorance-none-however/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [So, in the infinitely nobler battle in which you are engaged against error and wrong, if ever repulsed or stricken down, may you always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/so-in-the-infinitely-nobler-battle-in-which-you-are-engaged-against/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [We conceive of immortality as having a beginning, but no end; but we conceive of eternity as having neither beginning nor end. Hence it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/we-conceive-of-immortality-as-having-a-beginning-but-no-end-but-we/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [In our country and in our times no man is worthy the honored name of statesman who does not include the highest practicable education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/in-our-country-and-in-our-times-no-man-is-worthy-the-honored-name-of/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Genius may conceive but patient labor must consummate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/genius-may-conceive-but-patient-labor-must-consummate/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Even the choicest literature should be taken as the condiment, and not as the sustenance of life. It should be neither the warp nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/even-the-choicest-literature-should-be-taken-as-the-condiment-and-not/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Of all "rights" which command attention at the present time among us, woman's rights seem to take precedence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/of-all-rights-which-command-attention-at-the-present-time-among-us/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [After a child has arrived at the legal age for attending school,-whether he be the child of noble or of peasant,-the only two absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/after-a-child-has-arrived-at-the-legal-age-for-attending-school/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Let the Common School be expanded to its capabilities, let it be worked with the efficiency of which it is susceptible, and nine tenths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/let-the-common-school-be-expanded-to-its-capabilities-let-it-be/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Resistance to improvement contradicts the noblest instincts of the race. It begets its opposite. The fanaticism of reform is only the raging of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/resistance-to-improvement-contradicts-the-noblest-instincts-of-the/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Explore all 191 Horace Mann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) ## More Dozen quotes > [One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-brahms/one-should-never-forget-that-by-actually-perfecting-one-piece-one/) [Johannes Brahms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-brahms/) > [Saiman picked up a coffee mug, stared at it, and hurled it against the wall. It shattered into a dozen pieces. We looked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/saiman-picked-up-a-coffee-mug-stared-at-it-and-hurled-it-against-the/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her. If I'd done that ... even if I didn't make it, you wouldn't've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-do-remember-what-i-said-the-promise-to-protect-her-if-i-d-done-that/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Foolish tongues talke by the dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/foolish-tongues-talke-by-the-dozen/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Well. We’ll just have to hope that this wasn’t a loup-garou, I guess.” “If it was a louper, you’d know,” Bob said wisely. “In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/well-we-ll-just-have-to-hope-that-this-wasn-t-a-loup-garou-i-guess-if/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [One death to a man is a serious thing: a dozen neutralize one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/one-death-to-a-man-is-a-serious-thing-a-dozen-neutralize-one-another/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [My favourite song of Elton's is... it's a tricky one for me. I'm a proper fan and I've probably seen him in concert about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lucas/my-favourite-song-of-elton-s-is-it-s-a-tricky-one-for-me-i-m-a-proper/) [Matt Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lucas/) > [Osama Bin Laden is dead. Killed not by a massive troop deployment but by a commando raid carried out by a few dozen highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-killed-not-by-a-massive-troop-deployment-but/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [I've talked to dozens of Chicagoans who will only go off the record in talking about the manufactured mythology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/i-ve-talked-to-dozens-of-chicagoans-who-will-only-go-off-the-record/) [Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/) > [Protecting dozens of major coastal cities from future flooding will be challenging enough-rebuilding major coastal cities destroyed by super-hurricanes will be an almost impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-romm/protecting-dozens-of-major-coastal-cities-from-future-flooding-will/) [Joseph J. Romm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-romm/) > [There are always a half-dozen things that make 80%of the difference. Only SIX things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/there-are-always-a-half-dozen-things-that-make-80-of-the-difference/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“Perhaps it’s true that things can change in a day. That a few dozen hours can affect the outcome of whole lifetimes. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/perhaps-it-s-true-that-things-can-change-in-a-day-that-a-few-dozen/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Triump is just a little umph added to try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-owens/triump-is-just-a-little-umph-added-to-try/) [Tim Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-owens/) > [Oh senseless man, who cannot possibly make a worm or a flea and yet will create Gods by the dozen!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/oh-senseless-man-who-cannot-possibly-make-a-worm-or-a-flea-and-yet/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [While I was pregnant, I had dozens of checkups. They covered everything from blood tests to ultrasounds, and I even had the option of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/while-i-was-pregnant-i-had-dozens-of-checkups-they-covered-everything/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) [Browse all 974 Dozen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dozen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you can express yourself so as to be perfectly understood in ten words, never use a dozen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Horace Mann" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/if-you-can-express-yourself-so-as-to-be-perfectly-understood-in-ten/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dozen" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/if-you-can-express-yourself-so-as-to-be-perfectly-understood-in-ten/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/horace-mann-2022_dozen_if-you-can-express-yourself-so-as-to-be_2170212.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/horace-mann-2022_dozen_if-you-can-express-yourself-so-as-to-be_2170212.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/horace-mann-2022_dozen_if-you-can-express-yourself-so-as-to-be_2170212.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you can express yourself so as to be perfectly understood in ten words, never use a dozen.” — Horace Mann", "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": "Horace Mann", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you can express yourself so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/if-you-can-express-yourself-so-as-to-be-perfectly-understood-in-ten/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/if-you-can-express-yourself-so-as-to-be-perfectly-understood-in-ten/#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 } } ] } ```