How to put in your own words something the source expressed perfectly?

OK, you have at least these two purposes in taking a note:

1. To give your future self the best possible explanation
2. To learn-by-explaining

When the source has expressed something perfectly, and you feel you can't express it better, it would seem you can only satisfy one of the above purposes.

But, you can. One tactic:

1. Forget the original phrasing (wait a day), then try again to explain
2. After that feat of production, quote the original as a second explanation

What links here

• Slipbox workflow