--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great things only require to be simply…" description: "\"Great things only require to be simply told, for they are spoiled by emphasis; but little things should be clothed in lofty language, as they are only ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_delivery_great-things-only-require-to-be-simply-t_1121827.png" --- # Great things only require to be simply told, for they are… ![“Great things only require to be simply told, for they are spoiled by emphasis; but little things should be clothed in lofty language, as they are only kept up by expression, tone of voice, and style of delivery.” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_delivery_great-things-only-require-to-be-simply-t_1121827.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_delivery_great-things-only-require-to-be-simply-t_1121827.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_delivery_great-things-only-require-to-be-simply-t_1121827.png) > “Great things only require to be simply told, for they are spoiled by emphasis; but little things should be clothed in lofty language, as they are only kept up by expression, tone of voice, and style of delivery.” [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Simple ideas thrive on plain speech, while minor details need elaborate language to convey significance. **In simple terms:** Simple ideas need simplicity; minor details need flair. Key Takeaway Match language to idea size. Themes communication style expression Mood analytical thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - teaching - writing - marketing - negotiation Key Concepts rhetoric literature Questions to Reflect On - When should you simplify a complex idea? - When does ornate language add value? A Different Perspective Overemphasis can obscure clarity even for small matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delivery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delivery/) [Emphasis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emphasis/) [Emphasis Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emphasis-little-3038726/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Lofty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lofty/) [Lofty Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lofty-language-3038727/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Simply Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simply-told-1525176/) [Spoiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoiled/) [Spoiled Emphasis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoiled-emphasis-3038725/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone/) [Tone Of Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone-of-voice/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [“Study it yourself. If I told you, you would not know; you simply would have been told.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/study-it-yourself-if-i-told-you-you-would-not-know-you-simply-would/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I simply told people what I thought about the state of the war in Vietnam, and it was that we better get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-simply-told-people-what-i-thought-about-the-state-of-the-war-in/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [There are people so blind and self-absorbed in all matters that they always believe that, whatever they desire or think, they can impose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/there-are-people-so-blind-and-self-absorbed-in-all-matters-that-they/) [Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-de-souvre-marquise-de-sable/) > [A lofty birth or a large fortune portend merit, and cause it to be the sooner noticed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/a-lofty-birth-or-a-large-fortune-portend-merit-and-cause-it-to-be-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [A tall, well-built man with a deep chest and broad shoulders can carry a heavy burden with ease and unconcern, and still keep one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/a-tall-well-built-man-with-a-deep-chest-and-broad-shoulders-can-carry/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [10% of conflicts are due to a difference in opinion. 90% is due to a wrong tone of voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/10-of-conflicts-are-due-to-a-difference-in-opinion-90-is-due-to-a/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [Guy Savelli's role in the War on Terror began when half-a-dozen strangers, within days of one another, contacted him via e-mail and telephone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/guy-savelli-s-role-in-the-war-on-terror-began-when-half-a-dozen/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [When doing theater, you have to find great satisfaction in the small things. There's going to be a repetition and a redundancy night after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-spader/when-doing-theater-you-have-to-find-great-satisfaction-in-the-small/) [James Spader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-spader/) > [“Even without world wars, revolutions and emigration, siblings growing up in the same home almost never share the same environment. More accurately, brothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/even-without-world-wars-revolutions-and-emigration-siblings-growing/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [“when i think 'dave eggers' in my head it's in the same tone of voice jerry seinfeld uses to say 'hello newman' at work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-boyle/when-i-think-dave-eggers-in-my-head-it-s-in-the-same-tone-of-voice/) [Megan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-boyle/) > [Grammar and logic free language from being at the mercy of the tone of voice. Grammar protects us against misunderstanding the sound of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-rosenstock-huessy/grammar-and-logic-free-language-from-being-at-the-mercy-of-the-tone/) [Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-rosenstock-huessy/) > [Probably a dozen times since their death I've heard my mother or father, in an ordinary conversational tone of voice, call my name. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/probably-a-dozen-times-since-their-death-i-ve-heard-my-mother-or/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Coming to appreciate your worth can, in some cases, dramatically improve your circumstances by changing the choices you make and the actions you take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/coming-to-appreciate-your-worth-can-in-some-cases-dramatically/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“he does not wear a twitching, mobile, human face, but rather a mask, as it were, with its features in dignified equilibrium; he does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/he-does-not-wear-a-twitching-mobile-human-face-but-rather-a-mask-as/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Jean de la Bruyere > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [The unfaithful woman, if she is known for such by the person concerned, is only unfaithful. If she is thought faithful, she is perfidious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-unfaithful-woman-if-she-is-known-for-such-by-the-person-concerned/) [Jean De La Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Some people pretend they never were in love and never wrote poetry; two weaknesses which they dare not own -- one of the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/some-people-pretend-they-never-were-in-love-and-never-wrote-poetry/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [How much wit, good-nature, indulgences, how many good offices and civilities, are required among friends to accomplish in some years what a lovely face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/how-much-wit-good-nature-indulgences-how-many-good-offices-and/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [A man starts upon a sudden, takes Pen, Ink, and Paper, and without ever having had a thought of it before, resolves within himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/a-man-starts-upon-a-sudden-takes-pen-ink-and-paper-and-without-ever/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Born merely for the purpose of digestion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/born-merely-for-the-purpose-of-digestion/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [A man of variable mind is not one man, but several men in one; he multiplies himself as often as he changes his taste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/a-man-of-variable-mind-is-not-one-man-but-several-men-in-one-he/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [He who knows how to wait for what he desires does not feel very desperate if he fails in obtaining it; and he, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/he-who-knows-how-to-wait-for-what-he-desires-does-not-feel-very/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is made up of very hard but very polished people. \[Fr.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-court-is-like-a-palace-built-of-marble-i-mean-that-it-is-made-up/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Grief that is dazed and speechless is out of fashion: the modern woman mourns her husband loudly and tells you the whole story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/grief-that-is-dazed-and-speechless-is-out-of-fashion-the-modern-woman/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Every hour in itself, as it respects us in particular, is the only one we can call our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/every-hour-in-itself-as-it-respects-us-in-particular-is-the-only-one/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [To express truth is to write naturally, forcibly, and delicately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/to-express-truth-is-to-write-naturally-forcibly-and-delicately/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [We perceive wen love begins and wen it declines by our embarrassment when alone together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/we-perceive-wen-love-begins-and-wen-it-declines-by-our-embarrassment/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [I call those men worldly, earthly, or coarse, whose hearts and minds are wholly fixed on this earth, that small part of the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-call-those-men-worldly-earthly-or-coarse-whose-hearts-and-minds-are/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) [Explore all 464 Jean de la Bruyere quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) ## More Delivery quotes > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Men and women dream the same amount. The main difference in dream content relates to biology and life events. Women dream about their fertility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mcphee/men-and-women-dream-the-same-amount-the-main-difference-in-dream/) [Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) > [You must study their deliveries, their use of their bodies, their timing, and their use of audio and vocal effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklyn-ajaye/you-must-study-their-deliveries-their-use-of-their-bodies-their/) [Franklyn Ajaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklyn-ajaye/) > [In each business, there is a process, or a delivery system or information system, that is changing rapidly under them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-moelis/in-each-business-there-is-a-process-or-a-delivery-system-or/) [Ken Moelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-moelis/) > [When the business starts shaping the art, or the delivery of the art, then it's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mould/when-the-business-starts-shaping-the-art-or-the-delivery-of-the-art/) [Bob Mould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mould/) > [“Yippee. I’ve been promoted from fire lighter to delivery boy. I’ll write a letter home to Mother. She’ll be so pleased.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/yippee-i-ve-been-promoted-from-fire-lighter-to-delivery-boy-i-ll/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [A two-hour movie tends to be a plot-delivery device; you tend to have to introduce all the characters, say what the goal is, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/a-two-hour-movie-tends-to-be-a-plot-delivery-device-you-tend-to-have/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [Hip hop is expression..our roots and culture..Its your duty to contribute uniqueness to this artform. Desire of bringing somethin new, improved, witty and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bakersfield/hip-hop-is-expression-our-roots-and-culture-its-your-duty-to/) [Larry Bakersfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bakersfield/) > [The revolutionary process by which all books, old and new, in all languages, will soon be available digitally, at practically no cost for storage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-epstein/the-revolutionary-process-by-which-all-books-old-and-new-in-all/) [Jason Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-epstein/) > [Older Americans are perfect telemarketing customers, analysts say, because they are often at home, rely on delivery services, and are lonely for the companionship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/older-americans-are-perfect-telemarketing-customers-analysts-say/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“When preparing a presentation, it’s never a good idea to begin with a rule. If you do, you’re focusing on the appearance of good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/when-preparing-a-presentation-it-s-never-a-good-idea-to-begin-with-a/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [PROPHECY, n. The art and practice of selling one's credibility for future delivery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/prophecy-n-the-art-and-practice-of-selling-one-s-credibility-for/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [My parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles were all funny, and I felt that energy, that delivery, that timing, that sarcasm. All that stuff seeped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/my-parents-grandparents-aunts-and-uncles-were-all-funny-and-i-felt/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [In a world where discovery is more important than delivery, it's the people who find, remix and direct attention to old stuff that should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joichi-ito/in-a-world-where-discovery-is-more-important-than-delivery-it-s-the/) [Joichi Ito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joichi-ito/) [Browse all 385 Delivery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delivery/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Great things only require to be simply told, for they are spoiled by emphasis; but little things should be clothed in lofty language, as they are only kept up by expression, tone of voice, and style of delivery.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean de la Bruyere" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/great-things-only-require-to-be-simply-told-for-they-are-spoiled-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delivery" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/great-things-only-require-to-be-simply-told-for-they-are-spoiled-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_delivery_great-things-only-require-to-be-simply-t_1121827.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_delivery_great-things-only-require-to-be-simply-t_1121827.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_delivery_great-things-only-require-to-be-simply-t_1121827.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Great things only require to be simply told, for they are spoiled by emphasis; but little things should be…” — Jean de la Bruyere", "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": "Jean de la Bruyere", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Great things only require to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/great-things-only-require-to-be-simply-told-for-they-are-spoiled-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/great-things-only-require-to-be-simply-told-for-they-are-spoiled-by/#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 } } ] } ```