"上手に書くためには、一般の人々のように表現し、賢人のように考えなさい。"

Writing well is about connecting with people. It’s about talking in a way that’s straightforward, like chatting with your neighbor over the fence. But behind that simplicity, there’s a depth of thought and insight that comes from a place of wisdom.

Now, let’s dive into this a bit more. Imagine you’re at a town hall meeting. The best speakers aren’t the ones using big, fancy words; they’re the ones who speak plainly and directly. But what makes them really powerful is the thoughtfulness behind those words. They’ve considered the issues deeply, they’ve got the wisdom, and then they present their ideas in a way everyone can understand. That’s the sweet spot – clear, simple language backed by deep thinking.

This idea isn’t new. It calls back to ancient philosophers and writers who understood the power of plain speech. Think about Shakespeare. He wrote plays packed with wisdom and human insight, but his characters often spoke in the language of the people. That’s part of why his work remains so accessible and relatable even centuries later.

Let’s put this into a real-life scenario. Imagine you’re a manager at a company. You’ve got a team working under you, and you need to explain a new strategy to them. You could go the route of corporate jargon, saying things like “leveraging synergies” and “paradigm shifts.” But what’s going to resonate more? Try this: “We’re going to start working together more closely to make sure our projects run smoother and faster.” Simple, right? But if you’ve thought deeply about that strategy – about its benefits, its challenges, the way it affects each person – and you communicate those thoughts clearly, it’s going to stick. Your team will get it.

So, how do you apply this to your own writing? First, know your audience. Who are you talking to? What do they care about? Then, think about the core message you want to convey. Strip it down to its essence – avoid the fluff. Use words and phrases that people use every day. It’s not about dumbing down your ideas; it’s about making them accessible.

Picture this: You’re writing a blog post about healthy eating. You could go on about macronutrients and metabolic pathways, but that’s not going to grab most people. Instead, try this: “Eating well doesn’t have to be complicated. Think of your plate as a rainbow – more colors usually mean more nutrients.” Simple language, easy to understand, but behind it, there’s real knowledge about nutrition.

Here’s a story to wrap things up. A friend of mine, let’s call him Jake, used to write these long, convoluted emails at work. He thought using complex sentences and big words would impress his boss. But he kept getting feedback that his emails were hard to follow. Then he tried a different approach. He started writing like he was talking to his younger brother – straightforward, clear. He still put a lot of thought into what he was saying, but he made it easy to digest. Guess what? His communication improved dramatically. People understood him better, and his ideas started getting traction.

So next time you’re writing, think of it as a conversation. Keep it simple, keep it clear, but let the depth of your thinking shine through. It’s about balance, really – the wisdom in your mind, the words of the common people. That’s the key to writing well.