"One who understands much displays a greater simplicity of character than one who understands little"

In this quote, Alexander Chase appears to recommend that being well-informed or having a deep understanding of any subject equates into displaying an easy character. The simplicity that Chase refers to here is not the like being arrested or oblivious; rather, it is a quality of being unassuming, straightforward, and humble.

The concept is that the more you understand about something, the more you can distill intricate concepts into easier, more accessible ones. It takes a deep understanding to be able to do this masterfully. It also indicates that somebody who understands little about a subject may overcomplicate it or struggle to discuss it in easy terms.

Chase's underlying message is that intellectual humbleness is a virtue. By acknowledging what we don't understand or understand, we welcome opportunities to find out and grow. By contrast, people who pretend to know everything or act like they're specialists in everything are often viewed as big-headed or difficult to deal with. Thus, the continuous pursuit of knowledge can result in a simpler or more humble character in a way that ignorance can not.