---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you are editing, the final master is…"
description: "\"When you are editing, the final master is Aristotle and his poetics. You might have a terrific episode, but if people are falling out because there are..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/ken-burns-9897_aristotle_when-you-are-editing-the-final-master-is_2562998.jpg"
---

#  When you are editing, the final master is Aristotle and…

![“When you are editing, the final master is Aristotle and his poetics. You might have a terrific episode, but if people are falling out because there are just too many elements in it, you have to begin to get rid of things.” quote by Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/ken-burns-9897_aristotle_when-you-are-editing-the-final-master-is_2562998.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/ken-burns-9897_aristotle_when-you-are-editing-the-final-master-is_2562998.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a96/ken-burns-9897_aristotle_when-you-are-editing-the-final-master-is_2562998.jpg)

> “When you are editing, the final master is Aristotle and his poetics. You might have a terrific episode, but if people are falling out because there are just too many elements in it, you have to begin to get rid of things.”

[Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-burns/)

## About This Quote

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

Effective editing requires removing excess to keep the core narrative clear and engaging.

**In simple terms:** Trim unnecessary parts to focus on the main story.

Key Takeaway

Cut excess to strengthen impact.

Themes

editing storytelling clarity

Mood

focused analytical

Type

instructional practical

When to use this quote

- film editing
- writing drafts
- presentations
- meeting agendas

Key Concepts

Narrative focus conciseness

Questions to Reflect On

- What elements are essential to your message?
- How do you decide what to cut?

A Different Perspective

Removing too much can strip essential context.

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[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristotle/) [Editing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing/) [Editing Final](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editing-final-1623929/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Episode People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/episode-people-1623930/) [Master Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/master-aristotle-1623928/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Terrific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrific/)

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## More by Ken Burns

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