To think out a problem is not unlike drawing a caricature. You have to exaggerate the salient point and leave out that which is not typical. 'To illustrate a principle,' says Bagehot, 'you must exaggerate much and you must omit much.' As to the quantity of absolute truth in a thought: it seems to me the more comprehensive and unobjectionable a thought becomes, the more clumsy and unexciting it gets. I like half-truths of a certain kind - they are interesting and they stimulate.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Solving problems requires exaggerating key points and omitting details, as comprehensive truths often become dull and less stimulating.
- In plain terms
- To solve or explain a problem, highlight the main points and ignore the rest, even if it means not telling the whole truth.
- What can you take from it?
- Effective problem-solving often involves simplification and exaggeration of key points.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is simplification necessary for understanding?
- How much truth is too much?
Another view
Simplification can lead to misleading conclusions if important nuances are ignored.
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I hang onto my prejudices, they are the testicles of my mind.
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