--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't explain computers to laymen…" description: "\"Don't explain computers to laymen. Simpler to explain sex to a virgin.\" — Robert A. Heinlein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33e/robert-a-heinlein-209_computer_don-t-explain-computers-to-laymen-simple_2358683.jpg" --- # Don't explain computers to laymen. Simpler to explain sex… ![“Don't explain computers to laymen. Simpler to explain sex to a virgin.” quote by Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33e/robert-a-heinlein-209_computer_don-t-explain-computers-to-laymen-simple_2358683.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33e/robert-a-heinlein-209_computer_don-t-explain-computers-to-laymen-simple_2358683.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33e/robert-a-heinlein-209_computer_don-t-explain-computers-to-laymen-simple_2358683.jpg) > “Don't explain computers to laymen. Simpler to explain sex to a virgin.” [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Complex topics are often better explained with simpler analogies, even provocative ones. **In simple terms:** Use simple analogies for complex ideas. Key Takeaway Simplify, avoid over‑explaining. Themes communication education analogy Mood humorous direct Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - teaching - public speaking - technical writing Key Concepts pedagogy clarity Questions to Reflect On - How to choose respectful analogies? - When is simplicity insufficient? A Different Perspective Provocative analogies may offend. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Computers Laymen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers-laymen-5768358/) [Explain Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explain-computers-5768357/) [Explain Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explain-sex-822365/) [Laymen Simpler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laymen-simpler-5768359/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sex Virgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex-virgin-2373999/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Virgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virgins/) ## Related quotes > [I don't really have a problem with just wanting sex. Never have. Even when I was a virgin and wanted to marry the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-alba/i-don-t-really-have-a-problem-with-just-wanting-sex-never-have-even/) [Jessica Alba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-alba/) > [“JANE: What to do when it is that time in your girl child's life: 1. Sit down calmly and explain sex to her? 2.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-yolen/jane-what-to-do-when-it-is-that-time-in-your-girl-child-s-life-1-sit/) [Jane Yolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-yolen/) > [My brother tried to explain sex to me when I was 7 - and he did it with a cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/my-brother-tried-to-explain-sex-to-me-when-i-was-7-and-he-did-it-with/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [Explaining the moment of connection between a reader and book to someone who's never experienced it is like trying to describe sex to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-nelson/explaining-the-moment-of-connection-between-a-reader-and-book-to/) [Sara Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-nelson/) > [I hadnt had sex ever. I was a virgin. I was a very late bloomer and I was terrified of men. I was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mischa-barton/i-hadnt-had-sex-ever-i-was-a-virgin-i-was-a-very-late-bloomer-and-i/) [Mischa Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mischa-barton/) > [“Phone sex- I was a virgin. Lucas claimed he was as well, although he'd always had a dirty mouth- it was one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-harlow/phone-sex-i-was-a-virgin-lucas-claimed-he-was-as-well-although-he-d/) [Melanie Harlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-harlow/) > [The early Mussalmans accepted Islam not because they knew it to be revealed but because it appealed to their virgin reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-early-mussalmans-accepted-islam-not-because-they-knew-it-to-be/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I used to be a virgin, but I gave it up because there was no money in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-warfield/i-used-to-be-a-virgin-but-i-gave-it-up-because-there-was-no-money-in/) [Marsha Warfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-warfield/) > [There are believers who by God's grace, have climbed the mountains of full assurance and near communion, their place is with the eagle in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/there-are-believers-who-by-god-s-grace-have-climbed-the-mountains-of/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [And as regards Adam and Eve we must maintain that before the fall they were virgins in Paradise: but after they sinned, and were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/and-as-regards-adam-and-eve-we-must-maintain-that-before-the-fall/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Instead of finding himself in nerd heaven—where every nerd gets fifty-eight virgins to role-play with—he woke up in Robert Wood Johnson with two broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/instead-of-finding-himself-in-nerd-heaven-where-every-nerd-gets-fifty/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Me, my niggas and some Madonna hoes that look just like virgins but trust they down to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/me-my-niggas-and-some-madonna-hoes-that-look-just-like-virgins-but/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) ## More by Robert A. Heinlein > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Ninety percent of all human wisdom is the ability to mind your own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/ninety-percent-of-all-human-wisdom-is-the-ability-to-mind-your-own/) [Robert A. 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Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“The instinct to survive is human nature itself, and every aspect of our personalities derives from it. Anything that conflicts with the survival instinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-instinct-to-survive-is-human-nature-itself-and-every-aspect-of/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“I tried to dig out of the computer a call directory for Luna. But it was still sulking. I could not get it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-tried-to-dig-out-of-the-computer-a-call-directory-for-luna-but-it/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“this has more aspects than a cat has hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/this-has-more-aspects-than-a-cat-has-hair/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Never own more than you can carry in both hands at a dead run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-own-more-than-you-can-carry-in-both-hands-at-a-dead-run/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“In Wilson's scale of evaluations breakfast rated just after life itself and ahead of the chance of immortality." ~ By His Bootstraps / Robert A. Heinlein”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/in-wilson-s-scale-of-evaluations-breakfast-rated-just-after-life/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Ignorance is curable, stupid is forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/ignorance-is-curable-stupid-is-forever/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) [Explore all 888 Robert A. 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