Often we find in the conversation the words "concise", "conciseness." In communication with others, we value their ability to succinctly transmit information, because it saves our time. We have known the meaning of this term since childhood - they mean short, but meaningful speeches. However, not everyone was specifically interested in the term, much less its history. The latter, by the way, the word "concisely" is very interesting.
In this article, we consider the meaning of the word "concise", as well as the origin of this adjective. Interesting facts from history will come in handy, as they illustrate the pinnacles of conciseness.
About meaning
Dictionaries interpret the meaning of the adverb “succinctly” through the word from which it came - “conciseness”. We start with this.
So, laconicism is an expression of thoughts in a speech form in which the minimum number of words is used. “Compression”, “brevity of presentation” can be read by the synonyms closest to the meaning of the word.
From this we logically have that “succinctly” - it is succinct, concise, laconic to express one’s thoughts.
Origin of the word
As we started at the beginning of the article, the origin of the word “laconic” is interesting in itself. It is rooted in the history of ancient Greece and affects such a world famous city as Sparta.
The word "conciseness" has a common root with the name of one of the regions of Ancient Greece - Laconia. It was here that Sparta was located, and Socrates himself, the great thinker of antiquity, drew the attention of future generations to the amazing manner of communication of the Spartans. He warned that sincere surprise awaits the interlocutor when he hears Spartan speeches.
The simplicity and accuracy of the Spartans' expressions Socrates compared with the speeches of the child, exclusively in a practical manner. They are just as sharp and directed exactly toward the goal, as sometimes this can be seen in a conversation with an underdeveloped child - they are not distorted by generally accepted secular elements, but concern only matters. The Spartans were able to show what it means "concisely."
Interesting facts from history
Legends have reached us about the laconic speeches of the Spartans. One of them is connected with the events near Thermopylae, the unequal battle between Tsar Leonid and the Persians. To the proud statements of the Persian king Xerxes that the Spartans, with the number of their troops, should lay down their spears and surrender in order to stay alive, Leonid answered: "Come and take it."
The valor and brilliant simplicity of Leonid's speeches are immortalized in his dialogue with his wife. She before the battle near Thermopylae asked her husband what to do if she died. “Marry a worthy husband and give birth to healthy children,” - according to legend, she received such an answer.
A brilliant, witty response from the Spartans was received by Philip of Macedon on the approach to the walls of the city of Sparta, which he intended to capture. Blinded by his previous victories, Philip told the Spartans that if the gates were broken through them, the walls of Sparta would be crushed and taken by the army of the conqueror, as would all of Greece before. The brevity of the Spartans struck Macedon: "If," that was their answer. The result can be foreseen at least because Philip’s son, Alexander, did not dare to go to war on Sparta.
Conclusion
Now we probably know that succinctly - this is brief, but not just verbose. Conciseness implies a brilliantly thought out answer that can replace lengthy speeches.
It is not for nothing that folk wisdom speaks about the brevity of expressing thoughts: "Brevity is the sister of talent." And indeed: in order to reach that peak of imagery of the concise expressions of famous Greeks, one must have talent. Concisely - it’s also Spartan, as history says.
It remains for us to train, to develop intellectually and spiritually, through the experience of previous generations and our own attempts. Perhaps speaking concisely is your talent?