Painterly wooden megaphone spilling tangled gold and teal ribbons on a pale surface.

Original artwork, not a still

The Phantom Tollbooth ‧ 1961

Norton Juster

I never knew words could be so confusing, Milo said to Tock as he bent down to scratch the dog's ear. "Only when you use a lot to say a little," answered Tock. Milo thought this was quite the wisest thing he'd heard all day.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

Milo learns that words only confuse when too many are used for too little. Tock's answer is short and plain, which proves its own point. Milo treats it as the wisest thing he's heard all day.

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