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Here are several sharp and insightful quotes from The Minto Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto—essential reading for anyone seeking clarity in thought, structure, and communication.
📌 Key Quotes on Structure & Logic
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“Mutually exclusive means that … what goes on in the Tire Division is not duplicated in Housewares… Collectively exhaustive means … nothing left out.”
This is the essence of the MECE principle: avoid overlap and cover all territory. (Bookey) -
“If you apply these rules when you divide, you can be sure that the structure you create shows all the pieces that must be described if you are to explain it to someone else.”
Emphasizing how structure ensures completeness. (Bookey) -
“You cannot tell that nonsense is being written unless you first impose a structure on it. It is the imposition of the structure that permits you to see flaws and omissions.”
Structure acts as a filter revealing errors and gaps. (Bookey) -
“Order based on class groupings is much less widely used in business writing than is either time order or structural order.”
A reminder to prioritize the right organizational logic. (Bookey)
💭 Quotes on Writing & Communication
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“Only when you express your thoughts—in writing or in speech—you have a firm grasp of your thoughts.”
Clear expression refines your thinking. (Place & Computing & People, Reddit) -
“Most writers simply group ideas, without completing the thinking. … They don’t truly go together and therefore can’t be summarized.”
A critique of incomplete organization. (StrategyU) -
“The teacher: ideas at any level in the pyramid must always be summaries of the ideas grouped below them.”
Clean hierarchy requires summarization at each level. (StrategyU) -
“The answer to any Why? question is always ‘Reasons,’ so you know that the points you need across the Key Line must all be reasons.”
Emphasizes logic in framing supporting assertions. (manager138.com, Goodreads) -
“If your entire thinking is not clear to the reader in the first 30 seconds of reading, you should rewrite.”
The power of clarity and first impressions. (manager138.com)
🧩 Interview Insights on Presentation
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“The best text slides convey their message as starkly and simply as possible. They do not waste words … which can and should be stated orally.”
A design principle for crisp, impactful slides. (Goodreads)
🗣 Real-World Endorsements from Practitioners
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From Reddit user reflections:
“When you are writing a proposal … start with the conclusion, then give key arguments and then back those arguments with supporting information.”
This mirrors the top‑down structure of Minto’s Pyramid. (Reddit, Reddit, Reddit) -
On communication effectiveness:
“Minto Pyramid principle can 10× the effectiveness of your written communication.”
Practitioners praise its practical impact in business writing. (Reddit)
🗂 Summary Table
| Concept | Insight |
|---|---|
| MECE Principle | Organize with no overlap and full coverage |
| Summarization Rule | Each level must summarize the ideas immediately beneath it |
| Structure Reveals Flaws | Imposing structure uncovers gaps and inconsistencies |
| Begin with the Conclusion | Leads to clarity, grabs attention immediately |
| First Impressions Matter | If central thinking isn’t clear in ~30 seconds, rewrite |
| Slide Clarity | Use minimal text; convey detail through spoken elaboration only |
Would you like:
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A themed collection of quotes (e.g. for presentations, emails)?
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A short practical guide to applying the Pyramid Principle in writing?
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Some sample before-and-after rewrites using its structure?
Let me know how you'd like to use these quotes and insights!
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