--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's always easy to describe something…" description: "\"It's always easy to describe something complex by applying to it an already known label.\" — Philippe Petit" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63a/philippe-petit-3697_always_it-s-always-easy-to-describe-something-c_2746484.jpg" --- # It's always easy to describe something complex by applying… ![“It's always easy to describe something complex by applying to it an already known label.” quote by Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63a/philippe-petit-3697_always_it-s-always-easy-to-describe-something-c_2746484.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63a/philippe-petit-3697_always_it-s-always-easy-to-describe-something-c_2746484.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63a/philippe-petit-3697_always_it-s-always-easy-to-describe-something-c_2746484.jpg) > “It's always easy to describe something complex by applying to it an already known label.” [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Labeling simplifies complexity but can obscure nuance and depth. **In simple terms:** Labels simplify but hide nuance. Key Takeaway Use labels cautiously, seek deeper understanding. Themes communication perception complexity Mood thoughtful analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - teaching - marketing - analysis - team discussions Key Concepts cognitive bias semantic reduction interpretation Questions to Reflect On - When does a label help versus hinder? - How can you uncover hidden layers beyond a label? A Different Perspective Labels may mislead or oversimplify reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Applying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applying/) [Applying Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applying-known-3066462/) [Complex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complex/) [Complex Applying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complex-applying-3066460/) [Describe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/describe/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Easy Complex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy-complex-3066459/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Known Label](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-label-3066461/) [Label](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/label/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) ## Related quotes > [I would not describe my personality. And I think when you describe people, you are making a mistake. That's not how they are; that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-would-not-describe-my-personality-and-i-think-when-you-describe/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [“Knowledge is power: You hear it all the time but knowledge is not power. It's only potential power. It only becomes power when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-kwik/knowledge-is-power-you-hear-it-all-the-time-but-knowledge-is-not/) [Jim Kwik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-kwik/) > [I don't understand people who spend their twenties hanging out in bars and going to football game. That stuff is so boring compared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/i-don-t-understand-people-who-spend-their-twenties-hanging-out-in/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [I don't think technology is viable unless the person applying it has something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laswell/i-don-t-think-technology-is-viable-unless-the-person-applying-it-has/) [Bill Laswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laswell/) > [Believe me, when I finish shooting 'Mad Men,' there's a huge chunk of time where I have a really hard time leaving my house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pare/believe-me-when-i-finish-shooting-mad-men-there-s-a-huge-chunk-of/) [Jessica Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pare/) > [Philanthropy is often seen as society's risk capital. That means the onus is on philanthropists, nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs to innovate. But philanthropic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-arrillaga-andreessen/philanthropy-is-often-seen-as-society-s-risk-capital-that-means-the/) [Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-arrillaga-andreessen/) > [Maybelline's Precise Ink Pen Liner is by far the easiest liquid eyeliner I've ever used. I'm really bad at applying liquid liner, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-mota/maybelline-s-precise-ink-pen-liner-is-by-far-the-easiest-liquid/) [Bethany Mota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-mota/) > [I was in a bookstore one afternoon, and I stumbled across this book called 'A Guide to Film Schools.' I always loved movies growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-helgeland/i-was-in-a-bookstore-one-afternoon-and-i-stumbled-across-this-book/) [Brian Helgeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-helgeland/) > [Lie detectors sometimes work because people believe they work, deterring the wrong people from applying for jobs in the first place, or prompting admissions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/lie-detectors-sometimes-work-because-people-believe-they-work/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [You always have to prove yourself. I always thought I had to go beyond things to get great grades. When I was applying for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-dunn/you-always-have-to-prove-yourself-i-always-thought-i-had-to-go-beyond/) [Crystal Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-dunn/) > [The Congo is very wealthy from oil money but is not paying its debts and at the same time is applying for special status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/the-congo-is-very-wealthy-from-oil-money-but-is-not-paying-its-debts/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [Its attitude, which it has preached and practiced, is skepticism. Now, it finds, the public is applying that skepticism to the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-griffith/its-attitude-which-it-has-preached-and-practiced-is-skepticism-now-it/) [Thomas Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-griffith/) > [“Having no applicable skills, in any possible area whatsoever, effectively makes me the master of redundancy. But that info is obsolete, like my insults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/having-no-applicable-skills-in-any-possible-area-whatsoever/) [Will Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-advise/) > [I think the astronaut job is the best job in the world. I realized when I was older and started applying for it that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-massimino/i-think-the-astronaut-job-is-the-best-job-in-the-world-i-realized/) [Michael J. Massimino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-massimino/) > [“Owning a book is a third of the goal. The others are actually reading it and applying it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-wayne/owning-a-book-is-a-third-of-the-goal-the-others-are-actually-reading/) [Israel Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-wayne/) ## More by Philippe Petit > [If I look at the performance of another friend Sting, whenever I hear him take over a stage and share his art with millions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-look-at-the-performance-of-another-friend-sting-whenever-i-hear/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I am a wire-walker. I can walk any time, anywhere - I'm indestructible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-am-a-wire-walker-i-can-walk-any-time-anywhere-i-m-indestructible/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I have been performing in the street for more than 50 years: magic for basically 60 years, and the high wire 45 years. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-have-been-performing-in-the-street-for-more-than-50-years-magic-for/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I needed more knowledge in rigging and knotting. I started collecting books on knots and really learning more and more. That's how it started.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-needed-more-knowledge-in-rigging-and-knotting-i-started-collecting/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [To be able to create fully, it's maybe fine that you learn the rules, but you have to forget and to rebel against those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/to-be-able-to-create-fully-it-s-maybe-fine-that-you-learn-the-rules/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [When a loved one disappears, you continue to live with the accompaniment of that person. One has to find a balance between joy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-a-loved-one-disappears-you-continue-to-live-with-the/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [You must not fall. / When you lose your balance, resist for a long time before turning yourself toward the earth. Then jump. /…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/you-must-not-fall-when-you-lose-your-balance-resist-for-a-long-time/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [When I was six years old, I fell in love with magic. For Christmas, I got a magic box and a very old book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-i-was-six-years-old-i-fell-in-love-with-magic-for-christmas-i/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I don't like to risk my life, so I prepare sometimes for months or sometimes for years. But sometimes after a walk, I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-don-t-like-to-risk-my-life-so-i-prepare-sometimes-for-months-or/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [When I perform outside, the major problem that could arise is strong wind.I spend months preparing for the types of wind that occur in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/when-i-perform-outside-the-major-problem-that-could-arise-is-strong/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [If I have to make a self-portrait, I would put poetry and rebellion on the list. To be able to walk on a wire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-have-to-make-a-self-portrait-i-would-put-poetry-and-rebellion-on/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Whenever other worlds invite us, whenever we are balancing on the boundaries of our limited human condition, that’s where life starts, that’s where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/whenever-other-worlds-invite-us-whenever-we-are-balancing-on-the/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I have walked many times around the world and each time it's different from the last one. It feels a little bit like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-have-walked-many-times-around-the-world-and-each-time-it-s/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I am a thief of knowledge, and in a survival way, I had to solve all the problems around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-am-a-thief-of-knowledge-and-in-a-survival-way-i-had-to-solve-all/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Metaphorically speaking, of course, if I put a problem behind my pillow and fall asleep, very often because my brain went to sleep with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/metaphorically-speaking-of-course-if-i-put-a-problem-behind-my-pillow/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) [Explore all 124 Philippe Petit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's always easy to describe something complex by applying to it an already known label.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philippe Petit" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/it-s-always-easy-to-describe-something-complex-by-applying-to-it-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/it-s-always-easy-to-describe-something-complex-by-applying-to-it-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63a/philippe-petit-3697_always_it-s-always-easy-to-describe-something-c_2746484.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63a/philippe-petit-3697_always_it-s-always-easy-to-describe-something-c_2746484.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63a/philippe-petit-3697_always_it-s-always-easy-to-describe-something-c_2746484.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's always easy to describe something complex by applying to it an already known label.” — Philippe Petit", "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": "Philippe Petit", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's always easy to describe something...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/it-s-always-easy-to-describe-something-complex-by-applying-to-it-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/it-s-always-easy-to-describe-something-complex-by-applying-to-it-an/#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 } } ] } ```