--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here we are, practitioners of memos: We…" description: "\"“Here we are, practitioners of memos: We send e-mail and we receive it, We copy it and forward it and save it and delete it. We write to mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84b/walter-brueggemann-9698_memos_here-we-are-practitioners-of-memos-we-se_2987810.jpg" --- # Here we are, practitioners of memos: We send e-mail and we… ![“Here we are, practitioners of memos: We send e-mail and we receive it, We copy it and forward it and save it and delete it. We write to move the data, and organize the program, and keep people informed— and know and control and manage. We write and receive one-dimensional memos, that are, at best…” quote by Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84b/walter-brueggemann-9698_memos_here-we-are-practitioners-of-memos-we-se_2987810.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84b/walter-brueggemann-9698_memos_here-we-are-practitioners-of-memos-we-se_2987810.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84b/walter-brueggemann-9698_memos_here-we-are-practitioners-of-memos-we-se_2987810.jpg) > ““Here we are, practitioners of memos:     We send e-mail and we receive it,     We copy it and forward it and save it and delete it.     We write to move the data, and                 organize the program,                 and keep people informed—     and know and control and manage.   We write and receive one-dimensional memos,         that are, at best, clear and unambiguous.     And then—in breathtaking ways—you summon us to song.”” [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Communication tools are often limited to simple, clear messages, yet they can inspire profound, unexpected creativity. **In simple terms:** Simple messages can spark deep inspiration. Key Takeaway Embrace simplicity to unlock creativity. Themes communication creativity messaging Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace emails - team updates - creative brainstorming Key Concepts theology media studies Questions to Reflect On - How can a brief memo become a catalyst for art? - What risks arise when messages are overly concise? A Different Perspective Simplicity may overlook nuance and depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dimensional Memos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dimensional-memos-4680190/) [Manage Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manage-write-4680191/) [Memos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memos/) [Memos Send](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memos-send-4680189/) [Practitioners Memos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practitioners-memos-4680188/) ## Related quotes > [ There's a fantastic, thousand-page book by David Thomson about \[David O. Selznick\]. Again, it's not the best argument or the best advertisement for his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-longworth/there-s-a-fantastic-thousand-page-book-by-david-thomson-about-david-o/) [Karina Longworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-longworth/) > [In his world, people never questioned him. And it was a good place to be, his world. Apparently she hadn't gotten the memo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/in-his-world-people-never-questioned-him-and-it-was-a-good-place-to/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Although it is the biggest time-waster in office life, you must never underrate the importance of the memo. You will be judged by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/although-it-is-the-biggest-time-waster-in-office-life-you-must-never/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [Enough," Curran said. An unmistakable command saturated his voice. Jim clicked his mouth shut. I crossed my arms. "I'm sorry, is this the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/enough-curran-said-an-unmistakable-command-saturated-his-voice-jim/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I've been a musician since I was nine. I think a ghost or goblin visited me in the night. Maybe aliens abducted me, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/i-ve-been-a-musician-since-i-was-nine-i-think-a-ghost-or-goblin/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [We don't have a caucus, because we differ on so many views. Some of us are pro-choice, some are not. We'll take the issue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/we-don-t-have-a-caucus-because-we-differ-on-so-many-views-some-of-us/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [“Bout time," she huffed, but her voice sounded thick and emotional too."I was at the hospital all day yesterday, but they wouldn't let me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/bout-time-she-huffed-but-her-voice-sounded-thick-and-emotional-too-i/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [And Oliver North was really a good soldier, up to the last moment, shoving memos into the shredder and defending the policy to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-ray-inman/and-oliver-north-was-really-a-good-soldier-up-to-the-last-moment/) [Bobby Ray Inman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-ray-inman/) > [CIA Director George Tenet has now testified before the 9/11 commission and he said we are still making the same dumb mistakes, like leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/cia-director-george-tenet-has-now-testified-before-the-9-11/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Memo to extreme partisans: If you can't bring yourselves to love your enemies, can you at least learn to hate your friends?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/memo-to-extreme-partisans-if-you-can-t-bring-yourselves-to-love-your/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [ I can document this past week \[of presidency\] we've put out memos from every agency showing what did we do. Try to be as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-document-this-past-week-of-presidency-we-ve-put-out-memos-from/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [One of the most common ways to overcome resistance to change is to educate people about it beforehand. Communication of ideas helps people see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/one-of-the-most-common-ways-to-overcome-resistance-to-change-is-to/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [This supposed to be yall year? We aint get the memo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/this-supposed-to-be-yall-year-we-aint-get-the-memo/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [20-some years ago, I'd have a big old radio with a tape deck, and I'd hit record and try to get something down on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/20-some-years-ago-i-d-have-a-big-old-radio-with-a-tape-deck-and-i-d/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) > [I did think reviewers were supposed to be polite about story collections - collections are rather delicate creatures in the literary environment - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/i-did-think-reviewers-were-supposed-to-be-polite-about-story/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) ## More by Walter Brueggemann > [“In the end, ethical interpretation of the Bible means to think critically about how our practices of textual engagement might help us to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/in-the-end-ethical-interpretation-of-the-bible-means-to-think/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [The world for which you have been so carefully prepared is being taken away from you, by the grace of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/the-world-for-which-you-have-been-so-carefully-prepared-is-being/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [Every imperial agent wants to reduce what is possible to what is available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/every-imperial-agent-wants-to-reduce-what-is-possible-to-what-is/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [“The outcome is to delegitimize and deconstruct the kings in effective ways in order to show that while they occupy the forms of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/the-outcome-is-to-delegitimize-and-deconstruct-the-kings-in-effective/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [The church meets to imagine what our lives can be like if the gospel were true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/the-church-meets-to-imagine-what-our-lives-can-be-like-if-the-gospel/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [“Pharaoh is clearly a metaphor. He embodies and represents raw, absolute, worldly power. He is, like Pilate after him, a stand-in for the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/pharaoh-is-clearly-a-metaphor-he-embodies-and-represents-raw-absolute/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [“The news enacted by Elisha is reperformed by Jesus. It is, subsequently, performed in many other venues, sometimes by the followers of Jesus, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/the-news-enacted-by-elisha-is-reperformed-by-jesus-it-is-subsequently/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [People notice peacemakers because they dress funny. We know how the people who make war dress - in uniforms and medals, or in computers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/people-notice-peacemakers-because-they-dress-funny-we-know-how-the/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [“Only those who embrace the reality of death will receive the new life. Implicit in his statement is that those who do not mourn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/only-those-who-embrace-the-reality-of-death-will-receive-the-new-life/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [“The truth that is variously enacted by such agents is not an idea or a proposition. It is rather a habit of life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/the-truth-that-is-variously-enacted-by-such-agents-is-not-an-idea-or/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [“The same subversion of power by truth is evident in the way in which Luke begins his account of Jesus of Nazareth. Luke is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/the-same-subversion-of-power-by-truth-is-evident-in-the-way-in-which/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [We now know that human transformation does not happen through didacticism or through excessive certitude, but through the playful entertainment of another scripting of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/we-now-know-that-human-transformation-does-not-happen-through/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [“It occurs to me that the situation of the church in our society, perhaps the church everywhere always, is entrusted with a truth that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/it-occurs-to-me-that-the-situation-of-the-church-in-our-society/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [The gospel is fiction when judged by the empire, but the empire is fiction when judged by the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/the-gospel-is-fiction-when-judged-by-the-empire-but-the-empire-is/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [Hope requires a very careful symbolization. It must not be expressed too fully in the present tense because hope one can touch and handle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/hope-requires-a-very-careful-symbolization-it-must-not-be-expressed/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) [Explore all 71 Walter Brueggemann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) ## More Memos quotes > [ There's a fantastic, thousand-page book by David Thomson about \[David O. Selznick\]. Again, it's not the best argument or the best advertisement for his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-longworth/there-s-a-fantastic-thousand-page-book-by-david-thomson-about-david-o/) [Karina Longworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-longworth/) > [20-some years ago, I'd have a big old radio with a tape deck, and I'd hit record and try to get something down on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/20-some-years-ago-i-d-have-a-big-old-radio-with-a-tape-deck-and-i-d/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) > [This supposed to be yall year? We aint get the memo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/this-supposed-to-be-yall-year-we-aint-get-the-memo/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [One of the most common ways to overcome resistance to change is to educate people about it beforehand. Communication of ideas helps people see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/one-of-the-most-common-ways-to-overcome-resistance-to-change-is-to/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [ I can document this past week \[of presidency\] we've put out memos from every agency showing what did we do. Try to be as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-document-this-past-week-of-presidency-we-ve-put-out-memos-from/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Memo to extreme partisans: If you can't bring yourselves to love your enemies, can you at least learn to hate your friends?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/memo-to-extreme-partisans-if-you-can-t-bring-yourselves-to-love-your/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [CIA Director George Tenet has now testified before the 9/11 commission and he said we are still making the same dumb mistakes, like leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/cia-director-george-tenet-has-now-testified-before-the-9-11/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [And Oliver North was really a good soldier, up to the last moment, shoving memos into the shredder and defending the policy to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-ray-inman/and-oliver-north-was-really-a-good-soldier-up-to-the-last-moment/) [Bobby Ray Inman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-ray-inman/) > [“Bout time," she huffed, but her voice sounded thick and emotional too."I was at the hospital all day yesterday, but they wouldn't let me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/bout-time-she-huffed-but-her-voice-sounded-thick-and-emotional-too-i/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [We don't have a caucus, because we differ on so many views. Some of us are pro-choice, some are not. We'll take the issue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/we-don-t-have-a-caucus-because-we-differ-on-so-many-views-some-of-us/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [I've been a musician since I was nine. I think a ghost or goblin visited me in the night. Maybe aliens abducted me, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/i-ve-been-a-musician-since-i-was-nine-i-think-a-ghost-or-goblin/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Enough," Curran said. An unmistakable command saturated his voice. Jim clicked his mouth shut. I crossed my arms. "I'm sorry, is this the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/enough-curran-said-an-unmistakable-command-saturated-his-voice-jim/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Although it is the biggest time-waster in office life, you must never underrate the importance of the memo. You will be judged by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/although-it-is-the-biggest-time-waster-in-office-life-you-must-never/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [In his world, people never questioned him. And it was a good place to be, his world. Apparently she hadn't gotten the memo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/in-his-world-people-never-questioned-him-and-it-was-a-good-place-to/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [I did think reviewers were supposed to be polite about story collections - collections are rather delicate creatures in the literary environment - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/i-did-think-reviewers-were-supposed-to-be-polite-about-story/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) [Browse all 60 Memos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memos/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Here we are, practitioners of memos:     We send e-mail and we receive it,     We copy it and forward it and save it and delete it.     We write to move the data, and                 organize the program,                 and keep people informed—     and know and control and manage.   We write and receive one-dimensional memos,         that are, at best, clear and unambiguous.     And then—in breathtaking ways—you summon us to song.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Brueggemann" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/here-we-are-practitioners-of-memos-we-send-e-mail-and-we-receive-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Memos" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/here-we-are-practitioners-of-memos-we-send-e-mail-and-we-receive-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84b/walter-brueggemann-9698_memos_here-we-are-practitioners-of-memos-we-se_2987810.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84b/walter-brueggemann-9698_memos_here-we-are-practitioners-of-memos-we-se_2987810.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84b/walter-brueggemann-9698_memos_here-we-are-practitioners-of-memos-we-se_2987810.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Here we are, practitioners of memos: We send e-mail and we receive it, We copy it and forward it and save it…” — Walter Brueggemann", "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": "Walter Brueggemann", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Here we are, practitioners of memos:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/here-we-are-practitioners-of-memos-we-send-e-mail-and-we-receive-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/here-we-are-practitioners-of-memos-we-send-e-mail-and-we-receive-it/#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 } } ] } ```