It's Okay To Say Less

A Jedi Master's timeless wisdom about communication

Qui-Gon Jinn is a quote machine. Probably more than any Jedi Master in Star Wars, even more than Yoda. During his one film, Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon delivers a quip to Jar Jar Binks that is more important than you may realize.

Jar Jar almost gets them both killed. Qui-Gon is a tad flustered by this and asks, “What are you, brainless?” Jar Jar says back, “I can speak”

Qui-Gon responds, “The ability to speak doesn’t make you intelligent.”

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I have to repeat this to myself often. Over the weekend I was in Durham, North Carolina for NC Comicon. That’s my hometown. It was great to be back and to present a talk in front of a live audience titled, “Fear, Hate, Anger,

Not Today” about the most worthwhile virtues of Star Wars.

I spoke for about 30 minutes. And if I hadn’t significantly edited down my remarks, it could have been closer to 50. The goal of public speaking is not to say everything you want to say, and it’s not to say everything that could be said.

It’s to say what needs to be said. Nothing more. I hope I got that balance right. In a few weeks, we’ll share a video of that talk, so you can let me know.

If you don’t think Qui-Gon has this right, consider Seneca, the Roman philosopher and advisor to the emperor of the Roman Empire. He wrote a lot about speaking and rhetoric, especially in his now-published letters to a friend named Lucilius.

In one Seneca writes about the lawyers in Rome:

“Even in an advocate (lawyer) I should be careful to allow such uncontrolled speed in delivery, all in an unruly rush; how could a judge (or jury) be expected to keep up with it? —- You will be doing the right if you do not listen to people who are more concerned with the quantity than the quality of what they say.”

Seneca doesn’t care for fast talkers and ramblers of the Roman legal scene. He brings it up numerous times over the years as he’s writing to Lucilius.

Imagine Qui Gon addressing a crowd. Would he rant? (Canva AI image)

As I’ve built a career as a writer, occasional public speaker, and TV commentator, I know this wisdom from Seneca to be true.

You want to say memorable things. After all, “bumper sticker wisdom” is called that for a reason. It can fit on a sticker, and people want to share it with others. Because it’s clever and quick. Essays and monologues aren’t nearly as cool as: “Speak less, smile more” (Hamilton) and “Do or do not, there is no try”(Star Wars)

This week, try to catch yourself when you’re saying more than is necessary. Edit yourself when possible.

The truth of your heart and mind shines the brightest when fewer words are getting in the way.

This is the way.

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