Some phrases sound wise but say little. “It is what it is.” “Just saying.” “Agree to disagree.” They end conversations, not deepen them.

British philosopher Susan Stebbing warned against this kind of shortcut speech. She called it “potted thinking,” saying:

“Potted thinking is easily accepted, is concentrated in form, and has lost the vitamins essential to mental nourishment.”

In other words, it might sound clever, but it’s not real thought. So next time you reach for a tidy phrase, pause. Is it thinking—or just packaging?

Make it a great day, dear reader, and say something real.