It Isn’t Enough To Write So You Will Be Understood. You Have To Write So You Can’t Be Misunderstood

Quintilian? William Cobbett? John Cooke? Charles Haddon Spurgeon? W. E. Smith? Walter Winchell? Rollin D. Salisbury? William H. Taft?

Dear Quote Investigator: A maxim about the goal of communication expresses an ideal that is desirable but nearly impossible to achieve. Here are three versions:

(1) You must not only speak so that people can understand you, but so that they cannot misunderstand you.

(2) Teach not only so that the children can understand you, but so that they cannot misunderstand you.

(3) You must write not so that you can be understood but so that you cannot possibly be misunderstood.

Would you please explore the provenance of this family of sayings?

Quote Investigator: The Roman educator Quintilian (Marcus Fabius Quintilianus) published a multi-volume work about rhetoric titled “Institutio Oratoria” (“Institutes of Oratory”) around the year 95 CE. Quintilian discussed strategies of persuasion. Here is a passage from book 8 chapter 2 translated into English by scholar Harold Edgeworth Butler. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:^[1]1922, The Institutio Oratoria of Quintilian With an English Translation by H. E. Butler (Harold Edgeworth Butler, Professor of Latin in London University), Volume 3 of 4, Book 8, Chapter 2, Quote … Continue reading

For we must never forget that the attention of the judge is not always so keen that he will dispel obscurities without assistance, and bring the light of his intelligence to bear on the dark places of our speech. On the contrary, he will have many other thoughts to distract him unless what we say is so clear that our words will thrust themselves into his mind even when he is not giving us his attention, just as the sunlight forces itself upon the eyes.

Therefore our aim must be not to put him in a position to understand our argument, but to force him to understand it. Consequently we shall frequently repeat anything which we think the judge has failed to take in as he should.

Below is the key phrase in its original Latin form:^[2]1922, The Institutio Oratoria of Quintilian With an English Translation by H. E. Butler (Harold Edgeworth Butler, Professor of Latin in London University), Volume 3 of 4, Book 8, Chapter 2, Quote … Continue reading

Quare non, ut intelligere possit, sed, ne omnino possit non intelligere, curandum.

QI believes that Quintilian’s statement was the seed which produced the efflorescence of sayings under examination. For example, in 1807 James Beattie who was a Professor of Moral Philosophy and Logic at Marischal College in Scotland published “Elements of Moral Science”. Beattie cited Quintilian when he presented his own version of the saying:^[3]1807, Elements of Moral Science by James Beattie (Professor of Moral Philosophy and Logic in the Marischal College, and University of Aberdeen), Volume 2 of 2, Second Edition, Part 4, Chapter 1, … Continue reading

We should study, says Quintilian, not only to be understood in what we speak or write, but to make it impossible for the attentive to misunderstand us.

Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.

In 1818 U.K. politician William Cobbett published “A Grammar of the English Language”. He suggested that careful adherence to the rules of grammar would allow ideal communication:^[4] 1818, A Grammar of the English Language In a Series of Letters by William Cobbett, Letter 2, Quote Page 14, Printed for the Author by Clayton and Kingsland, New York. (Google Books Full View) link

Grammar, perfectly understood, enables us, not only to express our meaning fully and clearly, but so to express it as to enable us to defy the ingenuity of man to give to our words any other meaning than that which we ourselves intend them to express. This, therefore, is a science of substantial utility.

In 1828 a posthumous book from Reverend John Cooke of England included a letter containing an instance of the saying:^[5]1828, Memoirs and Select Remains of The Late Rev. John Cooke by George Redford, Letter LXVI, Letter From: John Cooke, Letter To: Unknown Minister, (On the best Style for Sermons), Quote Page 581, … Continue reading

You should, therefore, preach not only so plainly that you may be understood, but so as you cannot be misunderstood.

During a sermon in 1861 popular English preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon used the saying while acknowledging William Cobbett:^[6]1862, The New Park Street and Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Containing Sermons Preached and Revised by Rev. C. H. Spurgeon (Charles Haddon Spurgeon) During the Year 1861, Volume 7, Sermon: The … Continue reading

I can scarcely say a sentence in which I am not misconstrued; and I do aver that I have often taken Cobbett’s rule to speak not only so that I could be understood, but so that I thought I could not be misunderstood.

In 1874 Captain W. E. Smith who was the Honorary Secretary of the Evangelization Society in London published “Address to Evangelists”, and he included the saying:^[7]1874, Address to Evangelists by Captain W. E. Smith (Honorary Secretary of the Evangelization Society), Part 1, Chapter: Preach to the most ignorant, Quote Page 13, Evangelization Society, London. … Continue reading

An Evangelist should not use any expression which his ignorant hearers might misinterpret. You must not only speak so that men can understand you, but so that they cannot misunderstand you. You go with God’s message to the people.

During a sermon in 1874 preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon used the saying again while acknowledging William Cobbett:^[8]1875, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons Preached and Revised by C. H. Spurgeon During the Year 1874, Volume 20, Sermon: The Master, Quote Page 580, Passmore & Alabaster, London. (Google … Continue reading

I like the style of old Cobbett when he said, “I not only speak so that men can understand me, but so that they cannot misunderstand me;” and such a teacher was Christ to his own disciples.

In a book published in 1877 Charles Haddon Spurgeon used the saying again, but this time he did not mention Cobbett:^[9]1877, Second Series of Lectures to My Students: Being Addresses Delivered to the Students of The Pastors’ College, Metropolitan Tabernacle by C. H. Spurgeon (Charles Haddon Spurgeon), Lecture … Continue reading

I believe that many “deep” preachers are simply so because they are like dry wells with nothing whatever in them, except decaying leaves, a few stones, and perhaps a dead cat or two. If there be living water in your preaching it may be very deep, but the light of truth will give clearness to it. It is not enough to be so plain that you can be understood, you must speak so that you cannot be misunderstood.

In 1878 Adams S. Hill who was a Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard College published “The Principles of Rhetoric and Their Application”. Hill used the saying while acknowledging Quintilian in a footnote:^[10]1878, The Principles of Rhetoric and Their Application by Adams S. Hill (Adams Sherman Hill), (Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory in Harvard College), Book 2: Choice and Use of Words, Chapter … Continue reading

A writer or speaker should, in the first place, choose that word or phrase which will clearly convey his meaning to the reader or listener. It is not enough to use language that may be understood; he should use language that must be understood. 1

1 Quintilian: Inst. Orator. viii. ii. xxiv. “Non ut intellegere possit, sed ne omnino possit non intellegere, curandum.”

In 1885 “The Young Teacher: An Elementary Handbook of Sunday School Instruction” by William H. Groser called the saying an “old maxim” in the teaching domain:^[11]1885, The Young Teacher: An Elementary Handbook of Sunday School Instruction by William H. Groser, Chapter 4: Methods of Instruction – Their Use in Bible Teaching, Quote Page 71, Congregational … Continue reading

They eloquently echo the old maxim, “Strive to teach, not only so that the children can understand you, but so that they cannot misunderstand you!”

In 1890 U.K. judge Sir James Fitzjames Stephen spoke about the exactness required when drafting an Act of Parliament:^[12]1891, The Law Reports, Queen’s Bench Division, Volume 1, Case: In Re Castioni: Criminal Law–Extradition, Date: Nov. 10 and 11, 1890, Speaking: The Hon. Sir James Fitzjames Stephen (Judge … Continue reading

… it is not enough to attain to a degree of precision which a person reading in good faith can understand; but it is necessary to attain if possible to a degree of precision which a person reading in bad faith cannot misunderstand. It is all the better if he cannot pretend to misunderstand it.

In 1895 “A Handbook of English Composition” by James Morgan Hart printed an instance while acknowledging Quintilian:^[13]1895, A Handbook of English Composition by James Morgan Hart (Professor of Rhetoric and English Philology in Cornell University), Chapter 9: Clearness, Quote Page 134, Eldredge & Brother, … Continue reading

Nearly two thousand years ago, Quintilian uttered the dictum: “It is not enough to be understood; make sure that you cannot possibly be misunderstood.” *

* A free rendering of the Latin: Non ut intellegere possit, sed ne omnino possit non intellegere, curandum.—viii. ch. ii.

Also, in 1895 the “Journal of Horticulture” printed an instance while crediting William Cobbett:^[14]1895 November 7, Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gardener, Conducted by Robert Hogg, Volume 31, Ripened Wood by The Sceptic, Quote Page 434, Column 1, Published for the Proprietor, London. … Continue reading

… William Cobbett’s never-to-be-forgotten maxim, “Write, not so that people can understand, but so that they cannot misunderstand.”

In 1915 Marcus Southwell Dimsdale of the University of Cambridge published “A History of Latin Literature” which included a section about Quintilian containing an instance of the saying:^[15]1915, A History of Latin Literature by Marcus Southwell Dimsdale (Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge), Chapter 15: The Flavian Age, Quintilian, Start Page 440, Quote Page 443, D. Appleton and … Continue reading

Experience, for instance, has brought home to him the necessity for clearness of language. “We must take care not merely that the judge may understand us, but that he may not be able to misunderstand us.”

In 1947 the powerful newspaper columnist Walter Winchell printed an instance attributed to an anonymous editor:^[16] 1947 September 24, Courier-Post, Walter Winchell On Broadway, Quote Page 16, Column 1, Camden, New Jersey. (Newspapers_com)

Auth’d by Robert Gunning, Director of Readable News Reports: “An editor once said: ‘It isn’t enough to write so you will be understood. You have to write so you can’t be misunderstood’”

In 1953 a memoir titled “As I Remember” by Edgar J. Goodspeed credited geologist Rollin D. Salisbury of the University of Chicago with an instance:^[17] 1953, As I Remember by Edgar J. Goodspeed, Chapter 16: The Seats of the Mighty, Quote Page 261, Harper & Brothers, New York. (Verified with scans)

Let it not be supposed that Salisbury, an experienced writer, was careless in the use of words. Once in connection with some slight article of mine that he had seen and approved, he said to me that he always told his students, “It is not enough to write so that you can be understood, you must write in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood!”

In 1962 the third edition of “The Harper Handbook of College Composition” included the following instance attributed to an unnamed teacher:^[18]1962, The Harper Handbook of College Composition by George S. Wykoff (Professor of English, Purdue University) and Harry Shaw (Formerly Director, Workshops in Composition, New York University), Third … Continue reading

A much-loved and highly successful teacher of writing used to add: “You may think you have done enough if you write so that you can be understood. Well, you haven’t. You must write so that you can’t be misunderstood.”

In 1965 Robert E. Morsberger’s book “Commonsense Grammar and Style” included the following passage about Shakespeare’s imprecision:^[19] 1965, Commonsense Grammar and Style by Robert E. Morsberger, Chapter 2: Grammar down the Ages, Quote Page 36, Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York. (Verified with scans)

It was Shakespeare’s aim ever to create an effect. He was a linguistic impressionist. So long as the whole speech did what he wanted, he cared little about the detailed means by which the effect was gained. That ancient precept, “Write not so that you can be understood, but so that you cannot be misunderstood,” was not Shakespeare’s guiding principle.

In 1992 “The Wit and Wisdom of Politics” compiled by Charles Henning attributed the saying to U.S. President William H. Taft who had died in 1930:^[20] 1992, The Wit and Wisdom of Politics, Compiled by Charles Henning, Expanded Edition, Topic: Communication, Quote Page 34, Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, Colorado. (Verified with scans)

Don’t write so that you can be understood . . . write so you can’t be misunderstood.
William H. Taft (attr.)

In 2002 “Civilization’s Quotations: Life’s Ideal” compiled by Richard Alan Krieger credited the saying to Cobbett:^[21] 2002 Copyright, Civilization’s Quotations: Life’s Ideal, Compiled by Richard Alan Krieger, Topic: Speech, Quote Page 118, Algora Publishing, New York. (Verified with scans)

“I not only speak so that I can be understood, but so that I cannot be misunderstood.” — Cobbett

In conclusion, this family of sayings began with a statement in Latin from Quintilian circa 95 CE within a book about rhetoric. An instance in English attributed to Quintilian appeared in 1807. In 1818 William Cobbett penned an instance applied to grammar. Subsequently, Cobbett received credit for several different versions. Over the years many variants have proliferated.

(Great thanks to Paul Ritchie whose inquiry led QI to formulate this question and perform this exploration.)