FIVE

Fourth Law: Simplicity Gets Results

Simplicity is an exact medium between too little and too much.

—SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS

ONE DAY, SO WE ARE TOLD, KING ARTHUR ADDRESSED THE KNIGHTS of the Round Table. He charged them to be “ever true and noble knights”:

 

to do neither outrage nor murder, nor any unjust violence, and always to flee treason; also by no means ever to be cruel, but give mercy unto him that asked for mercy, upon pain of forfeiting the liberty of his court for evermore. Moreover, at all times, on pain of death, to give all succour unto ladies and young damsels; and lastly, never to take part in any wrongful quarrel, for reward or payment. And to all this he swore them knight by knight.1

 

Whew. Sir Lancelot and his colleagues ...

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