A picture is worth a thousand words, if the picture is offered by someone with linguistic barriers, shoddy grammar, or insufficient vocabulary... or represents a highly detailed object or scene. Even then, you risk that individual's ability to either draw something better than stick figures, or snap an acceptable photograph.
The previous paragraph is only fifty words, but I am at a loss as to how its meaning could be condensed to a single image. Perhaps
XKCD could do it.
- M.