“The more you explain it, the more I don’t understand it.”
- November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910
- American
- Author, humorist, and lecturer
- Wrote masterpieces such as “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” and had a major influence on American literature
Quote
“The more you explain it, the more I don’t understand it.”
Explanation
Mark Twain’s quote humorously addresses the paradox that sometimes, the more someone tries to explain something, the more confusing or complicated it becomes. Rather than clarifying, additional explanation can make the subject feel even more distant or obscure. The humor comes from the ironic truth that over-explaining, or adding too many details, can often lead to misunderstanding instead of understanding. Twain’s words playfully suggest that sometimes simplicity or brevity is much more effective than extended explanations that only add confusion.
This remark speaks to how people often try to over-explain things when a more straightforward approach might be better. Whether in conversations, teaching, or even written communication, too much detail or over-complication can cause the original point to get lost. Twain’s quote is a humorous reminder that clarity often lies in simplicity, and sometimes less is more when it comes to explanation.
In modern contexts, this quote resonates with how we handle complex ideas or instructions in everything from business communication to educational settings. Twain’s words encourage us to focus on clarity and understandability, rather than overwhelming others with too much information or making things more complicated than necessary.
