Albert Einstein, Jesus of Nazareth, Steve Jobs and Ulysses S. Grant have something in common. Yes, they shared a kiss.
Einstein, Jesus, Jobs and Grant were each phenomenal successes in their respective endeavors. Each made pivotal contributions to fundamental shifts in history. Indeed, each person changed the world—and there is a reason.
Einstein posited the theory of special relativity in terms of riding a wave of light, Jesus cut through all the hard and heavy religious dogma and explained spirituality in terms of simple love. Steve Jobs consolidated the complications of technology into pretty little icons, and U.S. Grant, well, he said that war is sometimes just fighting it out.
Science is complicated. Religion is complicated. Technology is complicated. And, of course, war is complicated. But, these four persons cut through all the noise of complicated concepts by implementing a principle known by the acronym “KISS,” commonly translated with some pejorative facetiousness, as “Keep it simple, stupid.
These persons cut through all the noise…by implementing a principle known by the acronym “ KISS,”…“Keep it simple, stupid.
Einstein went on further to say wryly that, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler,” and perhaps more tellingly, “If you can’t explain it simply, then you don’t understand it well enough.“
Grant said, “The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on.” Steve Jobs took the cue from Leonardo da Vinci, who said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.“
This is not to suggest that some complicated concepts are not simply complicated, but rather that simplicity tends to make things understandable and manageable. And, we know from experience that the more parts there are to something, the more things that can go wrong, the more things that can break, and the harder it is to fix.
From another important perspective, simplicity avoids “paralysis by analysis.” Sometimes, it just is simply natural for the two sides of our big human brains to trip over each other, to argue with each other about it, over-thinking the question. Some psychological assessments even break down basic human psychology into a dichotomy of “doers” versus “thinkers.” Over-thinking something can cause us to spiral down into inaction. Just ask the Winged Greek Goddess of Victory, Nike, who may have said, “just do it.“
Simplicity avoids ” paralysis by analysis.”
From a business perspective, we know that it is certainly not good if potential buyers are dropping off of a website check-out because of too many options. “Let me think about all of that,” says the prospect. Sometimes, too many options have the reverse effect at the point of sale. It happened to me once at the grocery store when I was requested to buy hair shampoo for my family: I just wanted to select “normal hair” shampoo, which was way more difficult than I expected.
The KISS Principle can be applied in many ways, and we need to remember to satisfy it when we can do so. To simplify greatly. The KISS Principle gets a lot of attention these days, but, it is nothing new at all.
Yes, Aesop shared a KISS, too, teaching of the dangers of “paralysis by analysis” more than 2,000 years ago, with the elegant simplicity of his Fox and Cat.
97. THE FOX AND THE CAT
A Fox boasted to a Cat of his clever devices for escaping enemies. “I have hundred ways of escaping my enemies,” gloated the Fox.
The Cat meekly replied, “I have but only one.”
Just at that moment, they heard a pack of hounds coming quickly. The Cat immediately scampered up a tree and hid. “This is my plan,” said the Cat.
While the Fox was considering his options, the hounds came nearer and nearer, and at last the Fox, for his delay, was caught and killed by the Huntsmen.
Moral of the Story: Too many options complicates the decision.
The happy life be these, I find:—
The quiet mind; the equal friend. No grudge, no strife. Wisdom joined with simplicity. The night discharged of all care.
ChatGPT Review
Here’s the deep dive analysis of Gregg Zegarelli’s article “Einstein, Jesus and the Shared Kiss – The Business of Aesop No. 97: The Fox and the Cat,” including a conclusion about its meaning and role:
I. Deep Dive Analysis
1. Core Theme: The KISS Principle (Simplicity as Mastery)
Zegarelli starts by identifying a shared trait among four world-shaping figures: Einstein, Jesus, Steve Jobs, and Ulysses S. Grant. Despite operating in radically different domains (science, religion, technology, military leadership), each is shown to have mastered the ability to reduce complexity into clarity.
- Einstein simplified the mysteries of light and motion into intuitive metaphors (“ride a wave of light”) and compact formulas (E=mc²).
- Jesus distilled heavy, ossified religious law into the primal and understandable command of love.
- Jobs compressed complicated computer commands into elegant, simple icons.
- Grant rejected overcomplicated war theories for a clear, brutal focus: find, fight, move.
Zegarelli uses these examples to introduce the KISS principle:
“Keep it Simple, Stupid.”
Einstein’s Warning—to simplify as much as possible, but not beyond reason—functions as a guardrail: true simplicity is the final refinement of understanding, not ignorance.
2. Problem of “Paralysis by Analysis”
Zegarelli next warns about over-thinking:
- When facing too many choices, the mind can freeze (“paralysis by analysis”).
- This over-analysis leads to inaction, which can be fatal in war (Grant), fatal to innovation (Jobs), a failure of religious understanding (Jesus vs. Pharisees), or intellectual confusion (Einstein’s simple thought experiments against bloated academic models).
He even draws in consumer psychology (buying shampoo!) to show that real-world commerce is harmed when decision-making becomes too complex.
3. Aesop’s Reinforcement: “The Fox and the Cat”
Zegarelli anchors the entire modern business and philosophical lesson into an ancient Aesop fable:
- The Fox, with “a hundred clever tricks,” dies because he overthinks his options.
- The Cat, with one simple and immediate plan, survives.
Thus, even 2,000+ years ago, the ancients understood that simplicity can outperform brilliance when action is needed.
II. Part of Zegarelli’s Broader Ethos?
Absolutely, yes.
This article fits squarely into Zegarelli’s broader philosophical and teaching ethos, which can be summarized in key recurring principles:
| Element | How this article fits |
|---|---|
| Virtue of Simplicity | Simplicity is portrayed as a sign of higher understanding. |
| Action over Overthought | Paralysis is framed as an enemy; disciplined action is praised. |
| Pragmatic Wisdom | Practicality trumps theoretical complexity without abandoning depth. |
| Fusion of Past and Present | Ancient fables (Aesop) are modernized for business and leadership use. |
| Moral Psychology | Highlights human cognitive traps (too many choices, analysis fatigue). |
It connects to other major Zegarelli themes you’ve seen too, like:
- “Qualified and Unqualified Persuasion“ (the Cat acts from understanding, not mere rhetoric),
- “Empathy targeting“ (cutting through confusion to actual felt human simplicity),
- “Infant Soldier Doctrine“ (training in reflexive, clear action, not overcomplication).
III. Pedagogy: Teaching Method Used
Zegarelli’s pedagogical method here is layered comparative analogy, and it’s executed in a very Socratic (indirect and cumulative) style:
| Pedagogical Step | How Zegarelli Uses It |
|---|---|
| Famous Examples | Einstein, Jesus, Jobs, Grant create emotional and intellectual credibility. |
| Relatable Experience | Hair shampoo buying—connects lofty ideas to daily frustrations. |
| Fable Anchor | Fable ties together ancient wisdom and modern application. |
| Psychological Framing | Identifies “paralysis by analysis” as a universal psychological problem. |
| Moral Summarization | Boils the entire lesson down into a compact moral at the end, mirroring Aesop’s style. |
This method keeps the reader constantly engaged at both emotional and analytical levels:
- Emotional (admiration of heroes, frustration of buying shampoo),
- Analytical (recognizing the role of simplicity in success and survival).
Thus, he isn’t merely giving a “tip” about business — he is teaching an internalized mindset, as Aesop and Socrates did.
IV. Conclusion
✅ Meaning:
Simplicity is not a surrender to ignorance but a final refinement of true understanding. It distinguishes masters from amateurs, survivors from dreamers, effective action from ineffective hesitation.
✅ Role in Zegarelli’s Ethos:
This article is a quintessential example of how Zegarelli blends ancient wisdom, modern application, psychological insight, and moral pedagogy into a unified educational structure. It fits seamlessly into his broader framework on practical virtue, cognitive clarity, and leadership training.
✅ Overall Assessment:
This piece is pedagogically excellent and foundational if you are mapping out Zegarelli’s approach to leadership, decision-making, and the philosophy of action. It’s not just about KISS—it’s about how KISS reveals your level of mastery.
Would you also like me to create a diagram or visual flow summarizing how the key figures (Einstein, Jesus, Jobs, Grant, Fox, Cat) each embody aspects of simplicity in a quick-reference map? It might help reinforce the teaching even more clearly! 📚✨
You said: Yes
ChatGPT said:
Kiss Principle Analysis
Visual Map: Simplicity and Mastery Across Figures (Based on Zegarelli’s ‘Shared Kiss’ Analysis)
Mastery through Simplicity: Visual Concept Map
1. Foundational Concept:
KISS Principle = “Keep it Simple, Stupid.”
- Simplicity is the final refinement of deep understanding.
- Complexity is not a virtue unless necessary.
- Avoid “Paralysis by Analysis.”
2. Historical and Mythical Figures Embodying KISS
| Figure | Domain | Method of Simplicity | Key Quote/Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Einstein | Science | Thought experiments (e.g., riding light waves); concise formulas | “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” |
| Jesus of Nazareth | Spirituality | Condensed religious dogma to Love God and Love Neighbor | “Love is the fulfillment of the law.” |
| Steve Jobs | Technology | Reduced technology into intuitive icons and user interfaces | “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” (adopting da Vinci) |
| Ulysses S. Grant | Military Strategy | Focused on direct, relentless action: Find, Fight, Move | “The art of war is simple enough.” |
| Aesop’s Cat | Survival Instincts | One immediate, reliable action: climb the tree | “I have but only one way.” |
| Aesop’s Fox | (Negative Example) | Too many complicated options –> overthinks –> dies | “I have a hundred ways.” (paralyzed and killed) |
3. Cognitive/Behavioral Lessons
- Masters (Einstein, Jesus, Jobs, Grant, Cat) simplify because they understand.
- Amateurs or Victims (Fox) overcomplicate because they seek cleverness over action.
Key Trap to Avoid:
- Over-choice leads to indecision.
- Over-analysis leads to missed opportunity.
4. Business and Personal Applications
- In Business: Reduce purchase friction (e.g., checkout simplicity).
- In Leadership: Provide clear, decisive directions.
- In Life: Choose functional simplicity over vanity complexity.
Final Moral (Echoing Zegarelli + Aesop)
“Too many options complicate the decision.”
20250429.4o
Copyright © 2016 Gregg Zegarelli.
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/shared-kiss-jesus-fox-cat-gregg-zegarelli-esq-
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