Blaise Pascal, in 1657: &quot;I have made this [letter] longer than usual because I have not had time to make it shorter.&quot;<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;quoteinvestigator.com&#x2F;2012&#x2F;04&#x2F;28&#x2F;shorter-letter&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;quoteinvestigator.com&#x2F;2012&#x2F;04&#x2F;28&#x2F;shorter-letter&#x2F;</a>