Long Letter Quote by Mark Twain

Reflecting on the art of communication, Mark Twain once shared a profound insight into the complexity of simplicity in writing:

"Sorry I wrote a long letter, I didn't have time to write a short one." — Mark Twain

This statement underscores a universal truth: crafting concise and effective messages often requires more thought and effort than producing lengthy, detailed compositions. It's easier to create something complicated and long, incorporating numerous elements without restraint. However, the true challenge lies in simplification—paring an idea down to its essential components. Achieving clarity and brevity demands a deep understanding of the subject and the discipline to exclude superfluous details. This process ensures the core message is conveyed efficiently and is comprehensible to the audience, demonstrating the mastery of effective communication.

When writing documentation, describing a pull request, or commenting on your code, it's important to be concise and direct, avoiding unnecessary verbosity, and ensuring clarity.