--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [M]y favorite teacher was explaining that…" description: "\"“[M]y favorite teacher was explaining that you don't say but however . These are pleonasms: the use of more words than necessary to express an idea. Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/stefano-benni-15099_emotion_m-y-favorite-teacher-was-explaining-that_2369945.jpg" --- # \[M\]y favorite teacher was explaining that you don't say… ![“[M]y favorite teacher was explaining that you don't say but however . These are pleonasms: the use of more words than necessary to express an idea. There are times in life that are very but however .” quote by Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/stefano-benni-15099_emotion_m-y-favorite-teacher-was-explaining-that_2369945.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/stefano-benni-15099_emotion_m-y-favorite-teacher-was-explaining-that_2369945.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/stefano-benni-15099_emotion_m-y-favorite-teacher-was-explaining-that_2369945.jpg) > ““\[M\]y favorite teacher was explaining that you don't say but however . These are pleonasms: the use of more words than necessary to express an idea. There are times in life that are very but however .”” [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author critiques unnecessary wordiness, calling out pleonasms that add no meaning. **In simple terms:** Avoid redundant words. Key Takeaway Speak concisely. Themes clarity economy language Mood analytical educational Type instructional critical When to use this quote - writing - public speaking - teaching - editing drafts Key Concepts pleonasm editing communication Questions to Reflect On - How can you spot redundancy? - When is repetition effective? A Different Perspective Over‑editing may strip nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Grammar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grammar/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [“The meaning of the words is necessary and not their extent. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/the-meaning-of-the-words-is-necessary-and-not-their-extent/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [Preach always. Use words if necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/preach-always-use-words-if-necessary/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [If God is the center of your life, no words are necessary. Your mere presence will touch hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/if-god-is-the-center-of-your-life-no-words-are-necessary-your-mere/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [Spread the love of God through your life but only use words when necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/spread-the-love-of-god-through-your-life-but-only-use-words-when/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“We have deemed all these words necessary in order to explain that we have been traveling more slowly than was predicted, concision is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/we-have-deemed-all-these-words-necessary-in-order-to-explain-that-we/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Words are not necessary to one's experience of the true life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/words-are-not-necessary-to-one-s-experience-of-the-true-life/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cousins/appreciation-can-make-a-day-even-change-a-life-your-willingness-to-2/) [Margaret Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cousins/) > [“And jewels and words are no less and no more necessary than cotton and silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-williams/and-jewels-and-words-are-no-less-and-no-more-necessary-than-cotton/) [Charles Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-williams/) > [“Preach the Gospel, use words when necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-francis-of-assisi/preach-the-gospel-use-words-when-necessary/) [St. Francis of assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-francis-of-assisi/) > [Saying 'Preach the Gospel Daily, use words if necessary' is like saying 'Feed the hungry, use food if necessary.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ligon-duncan/saying-preach-the-gospel-daily-use-words-if-necessary-is-like-saying/) [Ligon Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ligon-duncan/) > [Sir, when two people have the extraordinary quality of this state, words are not necessary. Where that quality of love exists, words become unnecessary.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/sir-when-two-people-have-the-extraordinary-quality-of-this-state/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Language is, in other words, not necessary, but voluntary. If it were necessary, it would have stayed simple; it would not agitate our hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/language-is-in-other-words-not-necessary-but-voluntary-if-it-were/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [Not the measure of words is necessary, but their meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/not-the-measure-of-words-is-necessary-but-their-meaning/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [“Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary. ~Saint Francis”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-donovan/preach-the-gospel-at-all-times-use-words-if-necessary-saint-francis/) Lynn Donovan > [Sometimes words is not necessary... Silence speaks more.. A hug worth a thousand voices... An actions shout louder... Instinct and feelings do more understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reolope/sometimes-words-is-not-necessary-silence-speaks-more-a-hug-worth-a/) [Janet Reolope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reolope/) ## More by Stefano Benni > [“When I'm in love, I can't stand anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/when-i-m-in-love-i-can-t-stand-anyone/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [If you meet an angel, you will have not peace, but a fever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/if-you-meet-an-angel-you-will-have-not-peace-but-a-fever/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [“Vatra je moja nežnost, jer anđeo i zver u moju dušu padoše zagrljeni...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/vatra-je-moja-ne-nost-jer-an-eo-i-zver-u-moju-du-u-pado-e-zagrljeni/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [ “\[T\]he real lie that advertising tells is not so much in what it shows, but in what it leaves out.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/t-he-real-lie-that-advertising-tells-is-not-so-much-in-what-it-shows/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [“Oh, my father sighs, if only we had a screwdriver that could unscrew wrongheaded ideas; if only we had a hammer to drive home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/oh-my-father-sighs-if-only-we-had-a-screwdriver-that-could-unscrew/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [“The winter was blasting its cold winds of dire portent into the tender face of springtime.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/the-winter-was-blasting-its-cold-winds-of-dire-portent-into-the/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [“Vidi che la banconota era tutta stropicciata, come l'assegno di Fefelli quel giorno a scuola, ma era una cosa diversa. I soldi si trasformano,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/vidi-che-la-banconota-era-tutta-stropicciata-come-l-assegno-di/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > ["Cynic" is a word invented by optimists to put down realists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/cynic-is-a-word-invented-by-optimists-to-put-down-realists/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [“Passiamo metà della vita a deridere ciò in cui altri credono, e l'altra metà a credere in ciò che altri deridono.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/passiamo-met-della-vita-a-deridere-ci-in-cui-altri-credono-e-l-altra/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [Destiny cuts the cake of love, Three slices to some, To others, a crumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/destiny-cuts-the-cake-of-love-three-slices-to-some-to-others-a-crumb/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [Being in love, as both Plato and David Bowie have pointed out, is horrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/being-in-love-as-both-plato-and-david-bowie-have-pointed-out-is/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [That's what art is: escaping everyday normality, which wants to eat you alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/that-s-what-art-is-escaping-everyday-normality-which-wants-to-eat-you/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) > [“Labella snapped shut her cell phone with a sigh, and looked down at her fingernails, delightfully painted a useless shade of purple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-benni/labella-snapped-shut-her-cell-phone-with-a-sigh-and-looked-down-at/) [Stefano Benni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) [Explore all 14 Stefano Benni quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-benni/) ## More Emotion quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [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 > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [“Emotion as well as reason belongs to the very stuff of history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-smalley/emotion-as-well-as-reason-belongs-to-the-very-stuff-of-history/) Beryl Smalley > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them. They may forget what you said, but they will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [There cannot be any communication except through form. If there is no form, you cannot create emotion in the spectator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-resnais/there-cannot-be-any-communication-except-through-form-if-there-is-no/) [Alain Resnais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-resnais/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [ Music \[is\] the third rail of life. You grabbed it to shock yourself out of the dull drag of hours. To feel something. To… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/music-is-the-third-rail-of-life-you-grabbed-it-to-shock-yourself-out/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [“What if each time you experienced an emotion, you acknowledged it, accepted it, and became curious about its message for you (instead of trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/what-if-each-time-you-experienced-an-emotion-you-acknowledged-it/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. 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