"Brevity is the Soul of Wit

What some of the most brilliant orators and the most memorable writers have always understood is that while a bounty is sometimes necessary, an economy of words can often be a much more effective use of language. A few of the best, such as William Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde, are known for being able to pack a world of meaning in a mere sentence or two. It's small wonder then that some of the greatest quotes are also some of the shortest quotes. This selection from the worlds of politics, entertainment, philosophy, history, and literature includes some prime examples that illustrate the principle, "less is more."