LESS is MORE - what does it mean? - Learn English with Misterduncan - With Captions

Here is an interesting English phrase

that we use when we want to express

the acceptable use of some  type of creative action,

especially when creating and displaying something

intended to make an impact or be entertaining.

The phrase is less is more.

We might use this phrase as a response to something we have seen or heard.

Something that is visually  overwhelming or overproduced 

in some way, might lead to  a state that less is more.

In other words, within the creation  there is too much going on,

which leads to our senses being overly coded.

The message or point becomes lost because 

there is too much going on for  the meaning to come through.

It is possible to put too much into  something you can easily overdo,  

something. It is too much to handle in a movie.

There might be too many special effects

leading to confusion and unwanted distractions

which take the viewer out of the story or moment being conveyed.

There is too much going on.

A piece of music might have too many instruments 

or key changes for it to be  pleasurable to listen to.

It has been overproduced.

There is too much going on in the song.

So the phrase less is more is used to express the fact that sometimes while creating something.

It is better to control the amount of things 

used or added so as to allow  the meaning to come through.

Be it a painting, a song, a movie,  or any type of presentation.

It is easy to go too far and over-egg the omelette.

You have added too much of something.

Less of something can have a more positive effect than going over the top with too much.

The phrase itself has been used in religious text, and is often expressed as a reminder to hold back

when creating something.

Don't overdo it. Observe restraint.

Don't go over the top.

Of course, too much of anything can be bad,

so it is always worth remembering that when creating something,

whether it is a piece of music, a painting,

a movie, or an office presentation,

sometimes... less is more.