--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The answer to most questions can be given…" description: "\"The answer to most questions can be given in one or two words, and no one will challenge you to go deeper.\" — Joseph Barrell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/joseph-barrell-41749_answer_the-answer-to-most-questions-can-be-give_2891638.png" --- # The answer to most questions can be given in one or two… ![“The answer to most questions can be given in one or two words, and no one will challenge you to go deeper.” quote by Joseph Barrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/joseph-barrell-41749_answer_the-answer-to-most-questions-can-be-give_2891638.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/joseph-barrell-41749_answer_the-answer-to-most-questions-can-be-give_2891638.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/joseph-barrell-41749_answer_the-answer-to-most-questions-can-be-give_2891638.png) > “The answer to most questions can be given in one or two words, and no one will challenge you to go deeper.” [Joseph Barrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Points out that brief answers limit deeper inquiry. **In simple terms:** Short answers discourage deeper thought. Key Takeaway Encourage thorough questioning. Themes communication depth learning Mood inquisitive analytical Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - classroom discussions - interviews - research Key Concepts critical thinking educational methods Questions to Reflect On - How can you ask follow‑up questions? - When is brevity appropriate? A Different Perspective Some contexts need brevity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) [Answer Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer-questions/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Challenge Deeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge-deeper-4064644/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Deeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeper/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Given Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-words-849307/) [Questions Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions-given-3186040/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-words/) ## Related quotes > [You ask rather too many questions. I have given you answers enough for the present: now I want to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ask-rather-too-many-questions-i-have-given-you-answers-enough-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have been given questions to which you cannot be given answers. You will have to live them out - perhaps a little at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/you-have-been-given-questions-to-which-you-cannot-be-given-answers/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [(1) I have told you more than I know about osteoporosis. (2) What I have told you is subject to change without notice. (3)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fuller-albright/1-i-have-told-you-more-than-i-know-about-osteoporosis-2-what-i-have/) [Fuller Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fuller-albright/) > [“I have never been given these words in this way before. This small piece of gospel, three parts hosanna, two parts testimony, one part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-have-never-been-given-these-words-in-this-way-before-this-small/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“It was as though he'd opened her palm, given her the words, and closed it up again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/it-was-as-though-he-d-opened-her-palm-given-her-the-words-and-closed/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I'm no writer, but still I want to record my days. And books have given me all the words I need. I just go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-mcdaniel/i-m-no-writer-but-still-i-want-to-record-my-days-and-books-have-given/) [Tiffany McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-mcdaniel/) > [“They feed back exactly what is given them. Because they do not believe in words - words are for "typeheads," Chester Anderson tells them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/they-feed-back-exactly-what-is-given-them-because-they-do-not-believe/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [There is no truth which cannot be given in fifty words; the truth is always concise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-n-malzberg/there-is-no-truth-which-cannot-be-given-in-fifty-words-the-truth-is/) [Barry N. Malzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-n-malzberg/) > [Blame to find out the source not to be given their words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blasio-kajuna/blame-to-find-out-the-source-not-to-be-given-their-words/) [Blasio Kajuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blasio-kajuna/) > [Most tasks and tests will demand recall of isolated pieces of information, and I will not have to show how concepts and ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/most-tasks-and-tests-will-demand-recall-of-isolated-pieces-of/) [Joseph Barrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/) > [When I do interviews, I enter them with an open mind and try to answer the questions the best I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-araya/when-i-do-interviews-i-enter-them-with-an-open-mind-and-try-to-answer/) [Tom Araya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-araya/) > [I never think that a film should answer questions for you. I think it should make you ask a lot of questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-never-think-that-a-film-should-answer-questions-for-you-i-think-it/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I'm lucky that I have a platform that I can answer my own questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-m-lucky-that-i-have-a-platform-that-i-can-answer-my-own-questions/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [“You need to answer questions on where, when and what to do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-need-to-answer-questions-on-where-when-and-what-to-do/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [I take my laptop with me on the road. When I come home, I log onto AOL, go to the Web site, and answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-trucks/i-take-my-laptop-with-me-on-the-road-when-i-come-home-i-log-onto-aol/) [Butch Trucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-trucks/) ## More by Joseph Barrell > [Most tasks and tests will demand recall of isolated pieces of information, and I will not have to show how concepts and ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/most-tasks-and-tests-will-demand-recall-of-isolated-pieces-of/) [Joseph Barrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/) > [If we wait long enough, a teacher will answer her own question, so we won't have to do much work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/if-we-wait-long-enough-a-teacher-will-answer-her-own-question-so-we/) [Joseph Barrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/) > [There is one "right answer" to any question, and it is in the book to be read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/there-is-one-right-answer-to-any-question-and-it-is-in-the-book-to-be/) [Joseph Barrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/) > [If we ask enough questions about a difficult assignment, we can get the teacher to make it easier and less demanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/if-we-ask-enough-questions-about-a-difficult-assignment-we-can-get/) [Joseph Barrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/) > [If I memorize enough stuff, I can get a good grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/if-i-memorize-enough-stuff-i-can-get-a-good-grade/) [Joseph Barrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/) > [Books and teachers are always "right", and we learn only from them, not from any other resource in the room, such as our friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/books-and-teachers-are-always-right-and-we-learn-only-from-them-not/) [Joseph Barrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/) > [The teacher is the only one worth listening to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/the-teacher-is-the-only-one-worth-listening-to/) [Joseph Barrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/) > [The teacher "teaches" and the students "sit and listen" or learn passively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/the-teacher-teaches-and-the-students-sit-and-listen-or-learn-passively/) [Joseph Barrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/) > ["Thinking" is not something we talk about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/thinking-is-not-something-we-talk-about/) [Joseph Barrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/) [Explore all 10 Joseph Barrell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/) ## More Answer quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/) [Jon Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ellis/) > [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/) [Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/) > [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Jumping someone is never the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-someone-is-never-the-answer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I play along myself, even though I can't help the player. So I can't say what I think the answer might be. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-mcguinness/i-play-along-myself-even-though-i-can-t-help-the-player-so-i-can-t/) [Paddy McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-mcguinness/) > [Sometimes the question is complicated, but the answers are simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-suess/sometimes-the-question-is-complicated-but-the-answers-are-simple/) [Dr Suess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-suess/) [Browse all 2,090 Answer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The answer to most questions can be given in one or two words, and no one will challenge you to go deeper.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Barrell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/the-answer-to-most-questions-can-be-given-in-one-or-two-words-and-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/the-answer-to-most-questions-can-be-given-in-one-or-two-words-and-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/joseph-barrell-41749_answer_the-answer-to-most-questions-can-be-give_2891638.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/joseph-barrell-41749_answer_the-answer-to-most-questions-can-be-give_2891638.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/joseph-barrell-41749_answer_the-answer-to-most-questions-can-be-give_2891638.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The answer to most questions can be given in one or two words, and no one will challenge you to go deeper.” — Joseph Barrell", "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": "Joseph Barrell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barrell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The answer to most questions can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/the-answer-to-most-questions-can-be-given-in-one-or-two-words-and-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barrell/the-answer-to-most-questions-can-be-given-in-one-or-two-words-and-no/#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 } } ] } ```