--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a thing can be done adequately by…" description: "\"If a thing can be done adequately by means of one, it is superfluous to do it by means of several; for we observe that nature does not employ two instr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/thomas-aquinas-837_doe_if-a-thing-can-be-done-adequately-by-mea_1269727.jpg" --- # If a thing can be done adequately by means of one, it is… ![“If a thing can be done adequately by means of one, it is superfluous to do it by means of several; for we observe that nature does not employ two instruments [if] one suffices.” quote by Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/thomas-aquinas-837_doe_if-a-thing-can-be-done-adequately-by-mea_1269727.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/thomas-aquinas-837_doe_if-a-thing-can-be-done-adequately-by-mea_1269727.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/thomas-aquinas-837_doe_if-a-thing-can-be-done-adequately-by-mea_1269727.jpg) > “If a thing can be done adequately by means of one, it is superfluous to do it by means of several; for we observe that nature does not employ two instruments \[if\] one suffices.” [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If one method suffices, using multiple is unnecessary; nature prefers simplicity. **In simple terms:** One adequate means is enough; avoid excess. Key Takeaway Choose the simplest effective solution. Themes efficiency simplicity natural order resource use Mood analytical philosophical Type theoretical practical When to use this quote - engineering design - policy making - daily decision making Key Concepts Occam’s razor systems theory economy of means Questions to Reflect On - When is redundancy beneficial? - Can simplicity miss nuance? A Different Perspective Complex problems sometimes need multiple approaches. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Instruments Suffices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments-suffices-4065367/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means Superfluous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-superfluous-1637029/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-does-332326/) [Occam-s-razor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occam-s-razor/) [Superfluous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superfluous/) [Superfluous Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superfluous-means-4065366/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [ “The worldly life \[the relative\] means 'superfluous'. 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