--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who thinks much says but little in…" description: "\"He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his thoughts. He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most explicit and direct ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/washington-irving-1386_contrary_he-who-thinks-much-says-but-little-in-pr_79093.jpg" --- # He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his… ![“He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his thoughts. He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most explicit and direct manner. He tries to compress as much thought as possible into a few words. On the contrary, the man who talks everlastingly and promiscuously, who…” quote by Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/washington-irving-1386_contrary_he-who-thinks-much-says-but-little-in-pr_79093.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/washington-irving-1386_contrary_he-who-thinks-much-says-but-little-in-pr_79093.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/washington-irving-1386_contrary_he-who-thinks-much-says-but-little-in-pr_79093.jpg) > “He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his thoughts. He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most explicit and direct manner. He tries to compress as much thought as possible into a few words. On the contrary, the man who talks everlastingly and promiscuously, who seems to have an exhaustless magazine of sound, crowds so many words into his thoughts that he always obscures, and very frequently conceals them.” [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thoughtful speech is concise, aiming to express ideas clearly with minimal words, while excessive talking dilutes meaning and can hide true intent. **In simple terms:** Concise speech reveals thought; verbosity obscures it. Key Takeaway Brevity clarifies, verbosity confuses. Themes communication clarity verbosity thoughtfulness expression language Mood reflective critical analytical Type aphorism advice observation When to use this quote - public speaking - writing - teaching - debates - interviews Key Concepts conciseness clarity obfuscation self-censorship Practical Applications - editing - speechwriting Questions to Reflect On - How does word choice affect perception of intelligence? - When is brevity more persuasive than detail? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compress Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compress-thought-1014014/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Crowds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowds/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Explicit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explicit/) [Few words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/few-words/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Magazines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magazines/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Proportion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proportion/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinks/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thoughts Obscures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-obscures-1014015/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Words Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-thoughts-382105/) ## Related quotes > [I must know, he thinks. It must be clear to me. There is a world which is closed to him, a world of shadings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-must-know-he-thinks-it-must-be-clear-to-me-there-is-a-world-which/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [He who thinks and thinks for himself, will always have a claim to thanks; it is no matter whether it be right or wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/he-who-thinks-and-thinks-for-himself-will-always-have-a-claim-to/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [He who thinks much says but little in proportion to his thoughts. He selects that language which will convey his ideas in the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/he-who-thinks-much-says-but-little-in-proportion-to-his-thoughts-he-2/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Redundancy of language is never found with deep reflection. Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking. He who thinks much says but little in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/redundancy-of-language-is-never-found-with-deep-reflection-verbiage/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Words and thoughts are a tremendous vibratory force, ever moulding man's body and affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/words-and-thoughts-are-a-tremendous-vibratory-force-ever-moulding-man/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [“Thoughts become things? 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If you have less bricks, you will make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-akhtar/words-are-not-thoughts-just-like-bricks-are-not-homes-but-houses-are/) [Javed Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-akhtar/) > [“But life is glorious when it is happy; days are carefree when they are happy; the interplay of thought and imagination is far superior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/but-life-is-glorious-when-it-is-happy-days-are-carefree-when-they-are/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Your feelings is the power of your words and thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/your-feelings-is-the-power-of-your-words-and-thoughts/) [Frenchqueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenchqueen/) > [“We are surrounded by so many books, so many words, so many thoughts... and not a single one can help us. I think, What's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/we-are-surrounded-by-so-many-books-so-many-words-so-many-thoughts-and/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## More by Washington Irving > [Some minds corrode and grow inactive under the loss of personal liberty; others grow morbid and irritable; but it is the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/some-minds-corrode-and-grow-inactive-under-the-loss-of-personal/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Language gradually varies, and with it fade away the writings of authors who have flourished their allotted time; otherwise, the creative powers of genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/language-gradually-varies-and-with-it-fade-away-the-writings-of/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's life is a history of the affections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Over no nation does the press hold a more absolute control than over the people of America, for the universal education of the poorest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/over-no-nation-does-the-press-hold-a-more-absolute-control-than-over/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [I have never found, in anything outside of the four walls of my study, an enjoyment equal to sitting at my writing desk with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/i-have-never-found-in-anything-outside-of-the-four-walls-of-my-study/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [There is no character in the comedy of human life more difficult to play well than that of an old bachelor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-no-character-in-the-comedy-of-human-life-more-difficult-to/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Redundancy of language is never found with deep reflection. Verbiage may indicate observation, but not thinking. He who thinks much says but little in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/redundancy-of-language-is-never-found-with-deep-reflection-verbiage/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. 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Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. 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On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [No truly conscious human being sabotages himself - it's impossible, because it's contrary to Nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/no-truly-conscious-human-being-sabotages-himself-it-s-impossible/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [With a full century of contrary proof in our possession and despite our demonstrated capacity for cooperative teamwork, some among us seem to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/with-a-full-century-of-contrary-proof-in-our-possession-and-despite/) [Dwight D. 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