"The secret of being a bore... is to tell everything"

Offering every detail and exhausting all information is a surefire way to lose an audience’s interest. Voltaire’s observation points out that leaving nothing to the imagination, operating without any restraint, and providing a complete account of every possible fact or thought is, ironically, a recipe for tedium, not enlightenment or connection. Human curiosity thrives on the unknown, on implication, subtlety, and the potential for discovery. When a speaker or writer tells absolutely everything, leaves no gaps, no ambiguity, no suggestion for the listeners to piece together or ponder, attention wanes; engagement dwindles.

This reflection applies beyond casual conversation and enters the realm of storytelling, teaching, and even daily interactions. A captivating storyteller knows to leave some elements unsaid, to allow the audience to participate by anticipating outcomes, questioning motives, or imagining hidden depths. Similarly, an effective teacher presents enough information to kindle curiosity, but not so much as to overwhelm and extinguish it. The beauty of dialogue and narrative often emerges in what is not directly stated, the hints, pauses, or mysteries that invite the audience to use their own intelligence and creativity.

The tendency to “tell everything” sometimes comes from a fear of misunderstanding or a desire to demonstrate thoroughness or mastery. However, true mastery lies in discernment: knowing which details enrich, which distract, and which are best left unspoken. Engaging others is not about the quantity of information, but the elegance and selectivity with which it is delivered. Restraint, mystery, and implication respect the audience’s capacity for inference and critical thinking.

Ultimately, conversation and communication thrive on interaction. When a speaker relinquishes that possibility through excessive explanation, dialogue becomes monologue, and the relational, dynamic element that sparks interest is lost. The art of holding attention lies as much in what is left unsaid as in what is shared.