{"id":2538,"date":"2022-03-14T18:56:13","date_gmt":"2022-03-14T18:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=2538"},"modified":"2022-03-14T18:56:13","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T18:56:13","slug":"less-is-more-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/less-is-more-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Less is More - Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a way to tell someone to take a minimalist approach to their life? If so, you could say to them, \"less is more<\/em>.\" This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The phrase \"less is more<\/em>\" means that a minimalist approach is often the best strategy. The term started with use in the architecture industry to describe modernist design principles and the use of open, uncluttered space.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This principle transferred into the broader market, penetrating culture. As a result, we have a \"minimalist culture\" where people do not clutter their lives with materialistic goods. If you're telling someone that less is more in a social situation, you could be telling them to stop trying so hard to impress another guy or girl.<\/p>\n

You could also use it at work to describe a situation where you're overanalyzing something or working too hard for little result. \"Less is more<\/em>\" is a way of telling someone to scale back on their efforts, and they might see better results.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\"Hey Dave, don't you know less is more<\/em>? There's no need to put so many candles on that birthday cake; just put one on for every ten years.\"<\/p>\n

\"I know people slate me about my minimalist lifestyle, but I feel less is more<\/em>, and I don't have to worry about clutter in my life.\"<\/p>\n

\"Less is more<\/em>, and going overboard with those appetizers is going to ruin the experience of the main meal for you.\"<\/p>\n

\"Look at the artist's generous use of negative space in their piece. It really does showcase the concept of less is more<\/em>.\"<\/p>\n

\"I was going to add all those accessories to my purchase, but my friend assured me that less is more<\/em> and it will look better without them.\"<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The origin of the idiom \"less is more<\/em>\" comes from Robert Browning's poem, \"Andrea Del Sartolead,\"<\/em> published in 1855.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho strive - you don't know how the others strive<\/p>\n

To paint a little thing like that, you smeared<\/p>\n

Carelessly passing with your robes afloat-<\/p>\n

Yet do much less, so much less, Someone says,<\/p>\n

(I know his name, no matter) - so much less!<\/p>\n

Well, less is more<\/em>, Lucrezia.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Browning created the saying, a German architect, Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, gets the credit for popularizing the term in modern language. Architects consider Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe (1886-1969) one of the pioneering founders of contemporary architecture and minimalist style.<\/p>\n

As a result, the phrase branched out into all areas of modern culture to describe a minimalist look or attitude towards something or someone.<\/p>\n