A visual image can convey complex ideas more effectively and efficiently than a lengthy verbal description. Visual communication is often more powerful than written or spoken language.
While the concept is ancient, this exact phrase was coined by advertising executive Fred R. Barnard in 1921 for a trade journal advertisement. He later falsely attributed it to a Chinese proverb to give it more credibility, demonstrating the very principle he was promoting - that presentation affects perception.
Ironically, this phrase about the power of images was created by an advertiser trying to sell advertising space! Barnard's fake attribution to Chinese wisdom shows how cultural authority can make ideas more persuasive. Modern neuroscience confirms the phrase's truth - our brains process visual information about 60,000 times faster than text.
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