“The present letter is a very long one, simply because I had no leisure to make it shorter.”
- June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662
- French
- Mathematician, Physicist, Inventor, Philosopher, Theologian
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Quote
“The present letter is a very long one, simply because I had no leisure to make it shorter.”
Explanation
Pascal humorously highlights the paradox that writing with clarity and brevity often takes more effort than writing at length. It may seem counterintuitive, but concise expression demands careful thought, precise word choice, and revision, all of which require time. By contrast, writing a long, rambling message can be done quickly, but lacks the polish and efficiency of something carefully edited. Thus, the quote is both witty and wise, pointing to the labor behind effective communication.
This quote appears in a letter Pascal wrote in 1657, and has since become famous as a timeless observation about writing and thinking. As both a mathematician and a master of rhetoric, Pascal valued economy of language and intellectual discipline. He understood that true elegance lies not in verbosity but in refinement—a principle that underlies his work in Pensées, where he sought to convey profound insights in striking, often aphoristic form.
In modern life—especially in an age of emails, tweets, and digital communication—Pascal’s insight is especially relevant. Whether in professional writing, teaching, or public speaking, concise communication is often the most powerful, but also the most demanding. His quote reminds us that brevity is not laziness, but the product of effort, skill, and respect for the reader. A short, clear message is often the mark of deep understanding.
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