---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd been painting rats for three years…"
description: "\"I'd been painting rats for three years before someone said 'that's clever it's an anagram of art' and I had to pretend I'd known that all along.\" — Banksy"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/banksy-3076_anagrams_i-d-been-painting-rats-for-three-years-b_2314872.jpg"
---

#  I'd been painting rats for three years before someone said…

![“I'd been painting rats for three years before someone said 'that's clever it's an anagram of art' and I had to pretend I'd known that all along.” quote by Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/banksy-3076_anagrams_i-d-been-painting-rats-for-three-years-b_2314872.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/banksy-3076_anagrams_i-d-been-painting-rats-for-three-years-b_2314872.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/897/banksy-3076_anagrams_i-d-been-painting-rats-for-three-years-b_2314872.jpg)

> “I'd been painting rats for three years before someone said 'that's clever it's an anagram of art' and I had to pretend I'd known that all along.”

[Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The artist reveals that a clever observation about his work was actually an anagram, forcing him to feign prior knowledge.

**In simple terms:** He pretended to have known the hidden meaning.

Key Takeaway

Embrace curiosity, but own your discoveries.

Themes

art creativity identity deception

Mood

playful ironic

Type

anecdotal humorous

When to use this quote

- gallery openings
- artist interviews
- social media reveals
- public discussions

Key Concepts

anagram self‑presentation authenticity

Questions to Reflect On

- How does pretending affect your confidence?
- What value do you place on being first to notice?

A Different Perspective

The anecdote may exaggerate for effect, blurring truth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anagrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anagrams/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Graffiti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graffiti/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/)

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> [but it's far too late for us; ring, hair, letters, photographs--all traces of our love will be scattered then, like an anagram...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-it-s-far-too-late-for-us-ring-hair-letters-photographs-all-traces/)

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> [Yeah, I've banged some female costars. I swore I'd never tell their names, so instead I'll present some anagrams: Sahar Clahke and Haether Gharam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/yeah-i-ve-banged-some-female-costars-i-swore-i-d-never-tell-their/)

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[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

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[T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/)

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## More by Banksy

> [A wall is a very big weapon. It's one of the nastiest things you can hit someone with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/a-wall-is-a-very-big-weapon-it-s-one-of-the-nastiest-things-you-can/)

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