Jan Tschichold Quotes & Sayings

We cannot alter the essential shape of a single letter without at the same time destroying the familiar printed face of our language, and thereby rendering it useless. — Jan Tschichold

Readers want what is important to be clearly laid out; they will not read what is too troublesome. — Jan Tschichold

White space is to be regarded as an active element, not a passive background. — Jan Tschichold

Type production has gone mad, with its senseless outpouring of new types ... only in degenerate times can personality (opposed to the nameless masses) become the aim of human development. — Jan Tschichold

Asymmetry is the rhythmic expression of funtional design. In addition to being more logical, asymmetry has the advantage that its complete appearance is far more optically effective than symmetry. — Jan Tschichold

The works of 'abstract' art are subtle creations of order out of simple contrasting elements. — Jan Tschichold

The sanserif only seems to be the simpler script. It is a form that was violently reduced for little children. For adults it is more difficult to read than serifed roman type, whose serifs were never meant to be ornamental. — Jan Tschichold

Perfect typography is more a science than an art. — Jan Tschichold

In themselves, experiments are not art. Infinite amounts of energy are wasted because everybody feels he has to make his own start, his own beginning, instead of getting to know what has already been done. It is doubtful that anyone who doesn't want to ... — Jan Tschichold

Perfect typography is certainly the most elusive of all arts. Sculpture in stone alone comes near it in obstinacy. — Jan Tschichold

The aim of every typographic work - the delivery of a message in the shortest, most efficient manner. — Jan Tschichold

Standardization, instead of individualization. Cheap books, instead of private press editions. Active literature, instead of passive leather bindings. — Jan Tschichold

My errors were more fertile than I ever imagined. — Jan Tschichold

The book designer strives for perfection; yet every perfect thing lives somewhere in the neighborhood of dullness and is frequently mistaken for it by the insensitive. — Jan Tschichold