---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... it is a great mistake to confuse…"
description: "\"... it is a great mistake to confuse conventionality with simplicity ... it takes a good deal of intelligence and a great many inhibitions to follow a ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/katharine-fullerton-gerould-13_code_it-is-a-great-mistake-to-confuse-convent_1816546.jpg"
---

#  ... it is a great mistake to confuse conventionality with…

![“... it is a great mistake to confuse conventionality with simplicity ... it takes a good deal of intelligence and a great many inhibitions to follow a social code.” quote by Katharine Fullerton Gerould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/katharine-fullerton-gerould-13_code_it-is-a-great-mistake-to-confuse-convent_1816546.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/katharine-fullerton-gerould-13_code_it-is-a-great-mistake-to-confuse-convent_1816546.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/katharine-fullerton-gerould-13_code_it-is-a-great-mistake-to-confuse-convent_1816546.jpg)

> “... it is a great mistake to confuse conventionality with simplicity ... it takes a good deal of intelligence and a great many inhibitions to follow a social code.”

[Katharine Fullerton Gerould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-fullerton-gerould/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Simplicity is not the same as conformity; true simplicity requires intellect and restraint.

**In simple terms:** Simplicity ≠ conformity.

Key Takeaway

Seek intelligent simplicity.

Themes

philosophy social norms creativity

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- design
- writing
- social interaction

Key Concepts

critical thinking self‑discipline

Questions to Reflect On

- When does simplicity become conformity?
- How to balance intelligence and restraint?

A Different Perspective

May be misunderstood as laziness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Confuse Conventionality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confuse-conventionality-2159795/) [Conventionality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventionality/) [Conventionality Simplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventionality-simplicity-2159796/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Great mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-mistakes/) [Inhibitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inhibitions/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Simplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplicity/) [Simplicity Takes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplicity-takes-2159797/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-code-2159798/)

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