--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Taking a single letter from the…" description: "\"“Taking a single letter from the alphaber,\" he said, \"should make life simpler.\" \"I don't see why. Take the F from life and you have lie. It's adding a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/james-thurber-1534_life_taking-a-single-letter-from-the-alphaber_1999125.jpg" --- # Taking a single letter from the alphaber," he said… ![“Taking a single letter from the alphaber," he said, "should make life simpler." "I don't see why. Take the F from life and you have lie. It's adding a letter to simple that makes it simpler. Taking a letter from hoarder makes it harder.” quote by James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/james-thurber-1534_life_taking-a-single-letter-from-the-alphaber_1999125.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/james-thurber-1534_life_taking-a-single-letter-from-the-alphaber_1999125.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/james-thurber-1534_life_taking-a-single-letter-from-the-alphaber_1999125.jpg) > ““Taking a single letter from the alphaber," he said, "should make life simpler." "I don't see why. Take the F from life and you have lie. It's adding a letter to simple that makes it simpler. Taking a letter from hoarder makes it harder.”” [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playful critique of language simplification by removing letters **In simple terms:** Removing letters can unintentionally change meaning Key Takeaway Consider how small changes affect meaning Themes language humor wordplay Mood witty thought‑provoking Type literary humorous When to use this quote - editing text - teaching spelling - cryptic puzzles - branding slogans Key Concepts semantic shift phonetics Questions to Reflect On - What does this reveal about the complexity of language? - When does simplification become distortion? A Different Perspective Oversimplification may obscure nuance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Letter Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letter-simple-2255291/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Simpler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simpler/) [Simpler Taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simpler-taking-3506835/) [Single Letter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-letter-3506837/) [Taking Letter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-letter-3506836/) [Witty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witty/) ## Related quotes > [The test of a good letter is a very simple one. If one seems to hear the other person talking as one reads, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-benson/the-test-of-a-good-letter-is-a-very-simple-one-if-one-seems-to-hear/) [A. C. Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-benson/) > [We cannot alter the essential shape of a single letter without at the same time destroying the familiar printed face of our language, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-tschichold/we-cannot-alter-the-essential-shape-of-a-single-letter-without-at-the/) [Jan Tschichold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-tschichold/) > [I would rather write 10,000 notes than a single letter of the alphabet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/i-would-rather-write-10-000-notes-than-a-single-letter-of-the-alphabet/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [Everyday, the mail brings the thousands of letters, and you hand over to Me personally hundreds more. Yet, I do not take the help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/everyday-the-mail-brings-the-thousands-of-letters-and-you-hand-over/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/comedy-has-to-be-done-en-clair-you-can-t-blunt-the-edge-of-wit-or-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [I'll say life is simpler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-williams/i-ll-say-life-is-simpler/) [Jayson Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-williams/) > [The truth always turns out to be simpler than you thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-truth-always-turns-out-to-be-simpler-than-you-thought/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [The simpler it is, the more beautiful it will become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-backhaus/the-simpler-it-is-the-more-beautiful-it-will-become/) [Wilhelm Backhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-backhaus/) > [The main purpose of science is simplicity and as we understand more things, everything is becoming simpler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-teller/the-main-purpose-of-science-is-simplicity-and-as-we-understand-more/) [Edward Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-teller/) > [Keep things simple, but not any simpler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/einstine/keep-things-simple-but-not-any-simpler/) [Einstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/einstine/) > [O, how much simpler things would be If eyes could paint or brush could see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/o-how-much-simpler-things-would-be-if-eyes-could-paint-or-brush-could/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“Nothingness, after all, is simpler than any one particular existing thing ever could be; there is only one nothing, and many kinds of something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-carroll/nothingness-after-all-is-simpler-than-any-one-particular-existing/) [Sean Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-carroll/) > [Our clothing, our food, our household furnishings - all could be much simpler than they now are and at the same time be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/our-clothing-our-food-our-household-furnishings-all-could-be-much/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [“Once you start doing it, lying is simpler than breathing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/once-you-start-doing-it-lying-is-simpler-than-breathing/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Life is more complicated than we think, yet far simpler than anyone dares to imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/life-is-more-complicated-than-we-think-yet-far-simpler-than-anyone/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) ## More by James Thurber > [ Salvador \[Dali\] was brought up in Spain, a country colored by the legends of Hannibal, El Greco, and Cervantes. I was brought up in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/salvador-dali-was-brought-up-in-spain-a-country-colored-by-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Her own mother lived the latter years of her life in the horrible suspicion that electricity was dripping invisibly all over the house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/her-own-mother-lived-the-latter-years-of-her-life-in-the-horrible/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Against the may, the could be, and the should, folly 'tis to balance doubt or hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/against-the-may-the-could-be-and-the-should-folly-tis-to-balance/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/love-is-the-strange-bewilderment-that-overtakes-one-person-on-account/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“ There was an old coddle so molly, He talked in a glot that was poly, His gaws were so gew That his laps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/there-was-an-old-coddle-so-molly-he-talked-in-a-glot-that-was-poly/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“you might as well fall on your face as lean over too far backwards”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/you-might-as-well-fall-on-your-face-as-lean-over-too-far-backwards/) [james thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [I myself have known some profoundly thoughtful dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-myself-have-known-some-profoundly-thoughtful-dogs/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [He knows all about art, but he doesn't know what he likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/he-knows-all-about-art-but-he-doesn-t-know-what-he-likes/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/all-men-should-strive-to-learn-before-they-die-what-they-are-running/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Quick, name some towns in New Jersey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/quick-name-some-towns-in-new-jersey/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Looks can be deceiving; it's eating that's believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/looks-can-be-deceiving-it-s-eating-that-s-believing/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“I don’t understand,” said the scientist, “why you lemmings all rush down to the sea and drown yourselves.” “How curious,” said the lemming. “The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-don-t-understand-said-the-scientist-why-you-lemmings-all-rush-down/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Humor does not include sarcasm, invalid irony, sardonicism, innuendo, or any other form of cruelty. When these things are raised to a high point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/humor-does-not-include-sarcasm-invalid-irony-sardonicism-innuendo-or/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Where most of us end up there is no knowing, but the hellbent get where they are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/where-most-of-us-end-up-there-is-no-knowing-but-the-hellbent-get/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/comedy-has-to-be-done-en-clair-you-can-t-blunt-the-edge-of-wit-or-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) [Explore all 229 James Thurber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) [Deanna L. Lawlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-l-lawlis/) > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Taking a single letter from the alphaber,\" he said, \"should make life simpler.\" \"I don't see why. Take the F from life and you have lie. It's adding a letter to simple that makes it simpler. Taking a letter from hoarder makes it harder.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Thurber" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/taking-a-single-letter-from-the-alphaber-he-said-should-make-life/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/taking-a-single-letter-from-the-alphaber-he-said-should-make-life/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/james-thurber-1534_life_taking-a-single-letter-from-the-alphaber_1999125.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/james-thurber-1534_life_taking-a-single-letter-from-the-alphaber_1999125.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/james-thurber-1534_life_taking-a-single-letter-from-the-alphaber_1999125.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Taking a single letter from the alphaber,\" he said, \"should make life simpler.\" \"I don't see why. Take the F…” — James Thurber", "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": "James Thurber", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Taking a single letter from the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/taking-a-single-letter-from-the-alphaber-he-said-should-make-life/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/taking-a-single-letter-from-the-alphaber-he-said-should-make-life/#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 } } ] } ```