From the second biography of St. Francis by Thomas of Celano

Holy Simplicity, the daughter of grace, the sister of wisdom, the mother of justice!
Francis took care to show simplicity himself, and he loved to see simplicity in others. It was not just any kind of simplicity that he approved, but only that simplicity which, being content with God alone, rejects everything else.

This is the simplicity
which feels great joy in respect and reverence for God, and does not know how to do or speak evil;
that questions itself but when assessing other people condemns no-one;
that grants to people better qualified than them the authority due to them and does not push for power for itself;
that does not get involved in complicated philosophical discussions like the Greeks did, but would rather do simple, practical work for God than teach or learn.

This is the simplicity that when considering all God’s commandments, leaves those long rambling speeches, theological niceties, clever remarks, silly showing off and weird comments to those who will soon trip themselves up with their long words.

Simplicity is looking for the heart of the matter rather than the outside appearance, the kernel not the shell, the greatest and longest lasting good not the quantity of words.

Our holy father Francis asked for simplicity in the brothers who were learned as well as those who were not, not considering it to be the opposite of wisdom but rather, its true sister, but easier to acquire and quicker to put into use for people poor in knowledge. Therefore, in the Praises of the Virtues which he composed, he says: “Hail, Queen Wisdom! May the Lord protect you, with Your Sister holy pure Simplicity!... Pure Holy Simplicity puts all the learning of this world, and all superstitions, to shame”.

Questions: How can wisdom come out of a simple approach?
What do you think Francis meant by simplicity being the “sister” of wisdom?
Have you experienced wisdom from poorly educated people?
How can being content with God alone and rejecting everything else be called ‘simplicity’?
How can not knowing how to do or speak evil come from being a simple person?
Is questioning oneself and not pushing for power more like humility than simplicity?
How do you keep a conversation simple rather than get bogged down in complicated intellectual arguments?
How can simplicity ‘put superstitions to shame’?