--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint." description: "\"Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint.\" — Banksy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/banksy-3076_bigs_speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-can-of-pain_690836.jpg" --- # Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint. ![“Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint.” quote by Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/banksy-3076_bigs_speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-can-of-pain_690836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/banksy-3076_bigs_speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-can-of-pain_690836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/banksy-3076_bigs_speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-can-of-pain_690836.jpg) > “Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint.” [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. Advocates for subtle influence paired with bold creative expression **In simple terms:** Use quiet words and vivid visuals Key Takeaway Combine restraint with striking art Themes creativity subtlety impact Mood provocative thought‑provoking Type artistic activist When to use this quote - political protest - gallery exhibition - social media campaign - urban revitalization Key Concepts visual rhetoric public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How can subtle messages become powerful? - When does boldness overwhelm subtlety? A Different Perspective Bold visuals may be ignored without context ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big Paint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-paint-5489552/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Carry Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carry-big-517671/) [Graffiti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graffiti/) [Hipster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hipster/) [Paint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Softly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/softly/) [Softly Carry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/softly-carry-619912/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak softly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-softly/) ## Related quotes > [“Speak softly, but carry a big stick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-marshall/speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-stick/) [Tim Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-marshall/) > [“Speak softly and carry a big stick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-roosevelt/speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick/) [Teddy Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-roosevelt/) > [Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick-you-will-go-far/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I Walk Softly But I Carry A Big Gun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jezreel-scott/i-walk-softly-but-i-carry-a-big-gun/) [Jezreel Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jezreel-scott/) > [If you want to have any success in politics, sing softly and carry a big guitar,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmie-davis/if-you-want-to-have-any-success-in-politics-sing-softly-and-carry-a/) [Jimmie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmie-davis/) > [Walk softly and carry a big stick. Or stomp loudly and carry enough firepower to start a small war. Whatever worked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hunter/walk-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick-or-stomp-loudly-and-carry-enough/) [Faith Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hunter/) > [There is a homely old adage which runs: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." If the American nation will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-a-homely-old-adage-which-runs-speak-softly-and-carry-a-big/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“I have always been fond of the West African proverb: ‘Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far,’ ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-have-always-been-fond-of-the-west-african-proverb-speak-softly-and/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [Speak softly. It is far better to rule by love than fear.Speak softly. Let no harsh words mar the good we may do here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/speak-softly-it-is-far-better-to-rule-by-love-than-fear-speak-softly/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [Smeared makeup as we lay in the wake of destruction Hush baby, speak softly, tell me you're awfully sorry That you pushed me into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yesss/smeared-makeup-as-we-lay-in-the-wake-of-destruction-hush-baby-speak/) [Yesss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yesss/) > [Speak softly and those who love you will always hear you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-lunney/speak-softly-and-those-who-love-you-will-always-hear-you/) [Nicole Lunney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-lunney/) > [the voice of beauty speaks softly; it creeps only into the most fully awakened souls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-voice-of-beauty-speaks-softly-it-creeps-only-into-the-most-fully/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Speak softly, I'm getting my massage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/speak-softly-i-m-getting-my-massage/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“on days like this i need you to run your fingers through my hair and speak softly - you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupi-kaur/on-days-like-this-i-need-you-to-run-your-fingers-through-my-hair-and/) [Rupi Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupi-kaur/) > [If a man has enough power, he can speak softly and everyone will listen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-roberts/if-a-man-has-enough-power-he-can-speak-softly-and-everyone-will-listen/) [Jake Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-roberts/) ## 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/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Some people criticize me for using sources that are a bit low brow (this quote is from 'Gladiator') but you know what? 'I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/some-people-criticize-me-for-using-sources-that-are-a-bit-low-brow/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [There's nothing more dangerous than someone who wants to make the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/there-s-nothing-more-dangerous-than-someone-who-wants-to-make-the/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [The grumpier you are, the more assholes you meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-grumpier-you-are-the-more-assholes-you-meet/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Today's art has been cancelled due to police activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/today-s-art-has-been-cancelled-due-to-police-activity/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Graffiti ultimately wins out over proper art because it becomes part of your city, it' s a tool; "I'll meet you in that pub,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/graffiti-ultimately-wins-out-over-proper-art-because-it-becomes-part/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [The bad artists imitate, the great artists steal,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-bad-artists-imitate-the-great-artists-steal/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Graffiti's always been a temporary art form. You make your mark and then they scrub it off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/graffiti-s-always-been-a-temporary-art-form-you-make-your-mark-and/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [I just wanna make the world a better-looking place. If you don't like it, you can paint over it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/i-just-wanna-make-the-world-a-better-looking-place-if-you-don-t-like/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [When he time comes to leave, just walk away quietly and don't make any fuss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/when-he-time-comes-to-leave-just-walk-away-quietly-and-don-t-make-any/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [If at first you don't succeed, Call an airstrike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-airstrike/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Painting something that defies the law of the land is good. Painting something that defies the law of the land and the law of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/painting-something-that-defies-the-law-of-the-land-is-good-painting/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [“Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a fucking sharp knife to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/think-outside-the-box-collapse-the-box-and-take-a-fucking-sharp-knife/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/we-can-t-do-anything-to-change-the-world-until-capitalism-crumbles-in/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [If you want to say something and have people listen then you have to wear a mask. If you want to be honest then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/if-you-want-to-say-something-and-have-people-listen-then-you-have-to/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) [Explore all 140 Banksy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) [Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Banksy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-can-of-paint/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bigs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-can-of-paint/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/banksy-3076_bigs_speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-can-of-pain_690836.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/banksy-3076_bigs_speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-can-of-pain_690836.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/banksy-3076_bigs_speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-can-of-pain_690836.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint.” — Banksy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Banksy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Speak softly, but carry a big...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-can-of-paint/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-can-of-paint/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```