--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To this end, nothing is to be more…" description: "\"To this end, nothing is to be more carefully consulted than plainness. In a lady's attire this is the single excellence; for to be what some people cal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/joseph-addison-377_attire_to-this-end-nothing-is-to-be-more-carefu_1821147.jpg" --- # To this end, nothing is to be more carefully consulted… ![“To this end, nothing is to be more carefully consulted than plainness. In a lady's attire this is the single excellence; for to be what some people call fine, is the same vice, in that case, as to be florid is in writing or speaking.” quote by Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/joseph-addison-377_attire_to-this-end-nothing-is-to-be-more-carefu_1821147.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/joseph-addison-377_attire_to-this-end-nothing-is-to-be-more-carefu_1821147.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/joseph-addison-377_attire_to-this-end-nothing-is-to-be-more-carefu_1821147.jpg) > “To this end, nothing is to be more carefully consulted than plainness. In a lady's attire this is the single excellence; for to be what some people call fine, is the same vice, in that case, as to be florid is in writing or speaking.” [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Plainness is the highest virtue; excess in dress or language is a flaw. **In simple terms:** Simplicity is best; avoid over‑embellishment. Key Takeaway Embrace simplicity in expression. Themes simplicity virtue moderation Mood thoughtful balanced Type advice observational When to use this quote - fashion choices - public speaking - writing style - personal branding Key Concepts aesthetics communication social norms Questions to Reflect On - How does simplicity affect credibility? - When is ornamentation appropriate? A Different Perspective Over‑simplicity can be perceived as dull or lacking depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Above all you must illumine your own soul with its profundities and its shallows, and its vanities and its generosities, and say what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/above-all-you-must-illumine-your-own-soul-with-its-profundities-and/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Trust a girl of sixteen for knowing well if she is pretty; concerning her plainness she may be ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/trust-a-girl-of-sixteen-for-knowing-well-if-she-is-pretty-concerning/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [My life is simple, my food is plain, and my quarters are uncluttered. In all things, I have sought clarity. I face the troubles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-sun-sin/my-life-is-simple-my-food-is-plain-and-my-quarters-are-uncluttered-in/) [Yi Sun-sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-sun-sin/) > [“Plainness was not necessarily simplicity,” Frank Lloyd Wright cautioned. “Elimination, therefore, may be just as meaningless as elaboration, perhaps more often is so. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/plainness-was-not-necessarily-simplicity-frank-lloyd-wright-cautioned/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-strunk-jr/the-approach-to-style-is-by-way-of-plainness-simplicity-orderliness/) [William Strunk, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-strunk-jr/) > [“Simple is pretty because it is plain; simple is effective because it gives an understandable clear message; simple is genius because it gains our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/simple-is-pretty-because-it-is-plain-simple-is-effective-because-it/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Plainness has its peculiar temptations and vices quite as much as beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/plainness-has-its-peculiar-temptations-and-vices-quite-as-much-as/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [She that would raise a noble love must find Ways to beget a passion for her mind; She must be that which she to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-villiers/she-that-would-raise-a-noble-love-must-find-ways-to-beget-a-passion/) [Theresa Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-villiers/) > [Errors and exaggerations do not matter. 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The wisdom of God created understanding, fit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-very-essence-of-truth-is-plainness-and-brightness-the-darkness/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [people who pay greater respect to a wealthy villain than to an honest, upright man in poverty, almost deserve to be enslaved; they plainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hancock/people-who-pay-greater-respect-to-a-wealthy-villain-than-to-an-honest/) [John Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hancock/) > [He will find one English book and one only, where, as in the "Iliad" itself, perfect plainness of speech is allied with perfect nobleness;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/he-will-find-one-english-book-and-one-only-where-as-in-the-iliad/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Socrates was the chief saint of the Stoics throughout their history ; his attitude at the time of his trial, his refusal to escape,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/socrates-was-the-chief-saint-of-the-stoics-throughout-their-history/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More by Joseph Addison > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [There is nothing touches our imagination so much as a beautiful woman in a plain dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-nothing-touches-our-imagination-so-much-as-a-beautiful-woman/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [We are always doing something for posterity, but I would fain see posterity do something for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/we-are-always-doing-something-for-posterity-but-i-would-fain-see/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Female Virtues are of a Domestick turn. The Family is the proper Province for Private Women to Shine in. 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Your attire reflects your sense of value or taste and of course, your speech either makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/you-are-addressed-by-the-way-you-dress-your-attire-reflects-your/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) Browse all 85 Attire quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To this end, nothing is to be more carefully consulted than plainness. 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