---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never go straight to the point if I can…"
description: "\"I never go straight to the point if I can go the most difficult way. Why be simple when you can be complicated?\" — Kristin Scott Thomas"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/kristin-scott-thomas-6749_complicated_i-never-go-straight-to-the-point-if-i-ca_2369567.jpg"
---

#  I never go straight to the point if I can go the most…

![“I never go straight to the point if I can go the most difficult way. Why be simple when you can be complicated?” quote by Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/kristin-scott-thomas-6749_complicated_i-never-go-straight-to-the-point-if-i-ca_2369567.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/kristin-scott-thomas-6749_complicated_i-never-go-straight-to-the-point-if-i-ca_2369567.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/kristin-scott-thomas-6749_complicated_i-never-go-straight-to-the-point-if-i-ca_2369567.jpg)

> “I never go straight to the point if I can go the most difficult way. Why be simple when you can be complicated?”

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

## About This Quote

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

Choosing complexity over simplicity adds unnecessary difficulty; simplicity often yields clearer, more effective outcomes.

**In simple terms:** Complexity complicates; simplicity clarifies.

Key Takeaway

Embrace simplicity when possible.

Themes

simplicity complexity communication

Mood

analytical thoughtful

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- writing
- problem solving
- teaching
- project management

Key Concepts

cognitive bias efficiency

Questions to Reflect On

- When is complexity necessary?
- How can you simplify without losing meaning?

A Different Perspective

Sometimes complexity is required for nuance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [I love that denim can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Anything goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-matsoukas/i-love-that-denim-can-be-as-simple-or-as-complicated-as-you-want-it/)

[Melina Matsoukas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-matsoukas/)

> [The way through the world is more difficult to find than the way beyond it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/the-way-through-the-world-is-more-difficult-to-find-than-the-way/)

[Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/)

> [Being simple and complicated at the same is what makes Jay-Z so great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rapsody/being-simple-and-complicated-at-the-same-is-what-makes-jay-z-so-great/)

[Rapsody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rapsody/)

> [I have this natural want to... when things sound very easy and straightforward, something inside me always makes me want to take a left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chino-moreno/i-have-this-natural-want-to-when-things-sound-very-easy-and/)

[Chino Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chino-moreno/)

> [Sometimes one of the justices, because they're, you know, they're brilliant lawyers themselves, can put the question in a particular way so that, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-verrilli-jr/sometimes-one-of-the-justices-because-they-re-you-know-they-re/)

[Donald Verrilli Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-verrilli-jr/)

> [Spending time away from family during filming, I think, for every working mum is always difficult. But it has to be done; there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dervla-kirwan/spending-time-away-from-family-during-filming-i-think-for-every/)

[Dervla Kirwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dervla-kirwan/)

> [Procrastinating, fighting and avoiding will only make it more difficult. The way out is to get it done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/procrastinating-fighting-and-avoiding-will-only-make-it-more/)

[Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/)

> [At a school in Massachusetts where I once worked, we managed early on through consensus. Which sounds wonderful, but it was just a very,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/at-a-school-in-massachusetts-where-i-once-worked-we-managed-early-on/)

[Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/)

> [In this age, which believes that there is a short cut to everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/in-this-age-which-believes-that-there-is-a-short-cut-to-everything/)

[Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/)

> [When it is difficult to find a way, keep on moving is the only option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/when-it-is-difficult-to-find-a-way-keep-on-moving-is-the-only-option/)

[Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/)

> [It will take you less time and effort to do a thing the difficult way than it will to buy, try and discard all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/it-will-take-you-less-time-and-effort-to-do-a-thing-the-difficult-way/)

[Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/)

> [“It is difficult to see yourself the way others see you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-wyatt/it-is-difficult-to-see-yourself-the-way-others-see-you/)

Alfonso Wyatt

> [“Always choose the most difficult way, there you will not meet competitors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-gaulle/always-choose-the-most-difficult-way-there-you-will-not-meet/)

[Charles de Gaulle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-gaulle/)

> [Choosing a role is very difficult. There's no way to have a strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-olin/choosing-a-role-is-very-difficult-there-s-no-way-to-have-a-strategy/)

[Lena Olin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-olin/)

> [Although attempting to bring about world peace through the internal transformation of individuals is difficult, it is the only way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-attempting-to-bring-about-world-peace-through-the-internal/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

## More by Kristin Scott Thomas

> [People are always saying, English, English, English rose, and I just feel so completely different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/people-are-always-saying-english-english-english-rose-and-i-just-feel/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [You have to think about whether that Mercedes-Benz you have is actually worth how much it costs to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/you-have-to-think-about-whether-that-mercedes-benz-you-have-is/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [My children are lovely. They're perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/my-children-are-lovely-they-re-perfect/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [Baths are my favorite thing. I can have two, three a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/baths-are-my-favorite-thing-i-can-have-two-three-a-day/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [Movies make you immortal and ageless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/movies-make-you-immortal-and-ageless/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [I have never met a woman who works who doesn't feel guilty. I mean we all deny it like crazy but deep down there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-have-never-met-a-woman-who-works-who-doesn-t-feel-guilty-i-mean-we/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [We older women in Europe are lucky not to be shoved away in a drawer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/we-older-women-in-europe-are-lucky-not-to-be-shoved-away-in-a-drawer/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [I tend to do things that I'm very frightened of. That's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-tend-to-do-things-that-i-m-very-frightened-of-that-s-what-i-do/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [Buy, buy, buy, buy! They want to grab you and trap you and turn you into little Elizabeth Hurleys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/buy-buy-buy-buy-they-want-to-grab-you-and-trap-you-and-turn-you-into/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [With the theatre, your whole day is geared towards the evening's show, and that's the job. People usually go to work about 9 and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/with-the-theatre-your-whole-day-is-geared-towards-the-evening-s-show/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [I'm a bit of a Doubting Thomas - always worrying about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-m-a-bit-of-a-doubting-thomas-always-worrying-about-things/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [I mean, if you're being directed very precisely by somebody who has admiration and who's really smart, it's great. If you're being told what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-mean-if-you-re-being-directed-very-precisely-by-somebody-who-has/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [My body is a baby machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/my-body-is-a-baby-machine/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [I find it very difficult to be two different characters at the same time - actress and mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-find-it-very-difficult-to-be-two-different-characters-at-the-same/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

> [I am sure that, had I grown up with both parents, had I grown up in a safe environment, had I grown up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-am-sure-that-had-i-grown-up-with-both-parents-had-i-grown-up-in-a/)

[Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

[Explore all 97 Kristin Scott Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/)

## More Complicated quotes

> [Of course I like you. It's because I like you I don't wanna be with you. It's a complicated emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin/of-course-i-like-you-it-s-because-i-like-you-i-don-t-wanna-be-with/)

Marlin

> [“Why the hell did he have to be so complicated? One minute he was charming, the next he withdrew behind his internal walls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-davis/why-the-hell-did-he-have-to-be-so-complicated-one-minute-he-was/)

[Lia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-davis/)

> [Life is more complicated than we think, yet far simpler than anyone dares to imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/life-is-more-complicated-than-we-think-yet-far-simpler-than-anyone/)

[Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/)

> [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/)

[James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/)

> [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [Programmers are always surrounded by complexity; we cannot avoid it… If our basic tool, the language in which we design and code our programs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoare/programmers-are-always-surrounded-by-complexity-we-cannot-avoid-it-if/)

[Tony Hoare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoare/)

> [“Just because it's complicated, just because you think you can't ever know everything about another person, it doesn't mean you can't try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-semple/just-because-it-s-complicated-just-because-you-think-you-can-t-ever/)

[Maria Semple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-semple/)

> [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/)

[Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/)

> [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/)

[Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/)

> [Your Starbucks order is directly proportional to how complicated your personality is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin/your-starbucks-order-is-directly-proportional-to-how-complicated-your/)

[Kevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin/)

> [Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics-when-united-with-it-sometimes/)

[Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/)

> [I have learned so much from my dad. Perhaps the biggest thing I've learned from my dad is how to be prepared at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/i-have-learned-so-much-from-my-dad-perhaps-the-biggest-thing-i-ve/)

[Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/)

> [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [ The parts of the \[Civil Right\] Movement we recognize so well now were not born from a single decision, but were a complicated and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-aydin/the-parts-of-the-civil-right-movement-we-recognize-so-well-now-were/)

[Andrew Aydin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-aydin/)

> [Two people could build an outhouse in four hours. They're not complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-maxwell/two-people-could-build-an-outhouse-in-four-hours-they-re-not/)

[Robert Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-maxwell/)

Browse all 3,190 Complicated quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I never go straight to the point if I can go the most difficult way. Why be simple when you can be complicated?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kristin Scott Thomas"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-never-go-straight-to-the-point-if-i-can-go-the-most-difficult-way/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Complicated"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-never-go-straight-to-the-point-if-i-can-go-the-most-difficult-way/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/kristin-scott-thomas-6749_complicated_i-never-go-straight-to-the-point-if-i-ca_2369567.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/kristin-scott-thomas-6749_complicated_i-never-go-straight-to-the-point-if-i-ca_2369567.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/kristin-scott-thomas-6749_complicated_i-never-go-straight-to-the-point-if-i-ca_2369567.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I never go straight to the point if I can go the most difficult way. Why be simple when you can be…” — Kristin Scott Thomas",
                "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": "Kristin Scott Thomas",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I never go straight to the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-never-go-straight-to-the-point-if-i-can-go-the-most-difficult-way/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-never-go-straight-to-the-point-if-i-can-go-the-most-difficult-way/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
