--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But if the arrow is straight And the…" description: "\"“But if the arrow is straight And the point is slick, It can pierce through dust no matter how thick. So I'll make my stand And remain as I am And bid ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/bob-dylan-168_quote_but-if-the-arrow-is-straight-and-the-poi_1439964.jpg" --- # But if the arrow is straight And the point is slick, It… ![“But if the arrow is straight And the point is slick, It can pierce through dust no matter how thick. So I'll make my stand And remain as I am And bid farewell and not give a damn.” quote by Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/bob-dylan-168_quote_but-if-the-arrow-is-straight-and-the-poi_1439964.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/bob-dylan-168_quote_but-if-the-arrow-is-straight-and-the-poi_1439964.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/bob-dylan-168_quote_but-if-the-arrow-is-straight-and-the-poi_1439964.jpg) > ““But if the arrow is straight And the point is slick, It can pierce through dust no matter how thick. So I'll make my stand And remain as I am And bid farewell and not give a damn.”” [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A metaphor about unwavering resolve cutting through obstacles, urging steadfastness despite indifference. **In simple terms:** Stay firm and cut through challenges. Key Takeaway Maintain your stance despite criticism. Themes determination resilience individualism Mood defiant reflective Type poetic lyational When to use this quote - personal challenges - creative pursuits - conflict resolution - public speaking Key Concepts metaphor self‑assertion defiance Questions to Reflect On - What does “stand” mean to you? - When is it wise to stay unchanged? A Different Perspective May ignore the cost of isolation or burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I make my stand and remain as I am, and bid farewell and not give a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-make-my-stand-and-remain-as-i-am-and-bid-farewell-and-not-give-a/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [The dirt of gossip blows into my face and the dust rumors cover me. But if the arrow is straight and the point is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-dirt-of-gossip-blows-into-my-face-and-the-dust-rumors-cover-me/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“The best teachers have showed me that things have to be done bit by bit. Nothing that means anything happens quickly--we only think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-bruchac/the-best-teachers-have-showed-me-that-things-have-to-be-done-bit-by-2/) [Joseph Bruchac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-bruchac/) > [The best teachers have showed me that things have to be done bit by bit. Nothing that means anything happens quickly--we only think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-bruchac/the-best-teachers-have-showed-me-that-things-have-to-be-done-bit-by/) [Joseph Bruchac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-bruchac/) > [Like a rock, standing arrow straight. Like a rock, charging from the gate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/like-a-rock-standing-arrow-straight-like-a-rock-charging-from-the-gate/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [Since my feet are now fast and point away from the past, I'll bid farewell and be down the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/since-my-feet-are-now-fast-and-point-away-from-the-past-i-ll-bid/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“Cupid's arrow is straight and sharp, never misses its mark, but it leaves one hell of an exit wound.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-preston/cupid-s-arrow-is-straight-and-sharp-never-misses-its-mark-but-it/) Dave Preston > [I'm about as straight an arrow as you'll find out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/i-m-about-as-straight-an-arrow-as-you-ll-find-out-there/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [“Passion rules the arrow that flies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/passion-rules-the-arrow-that-flies/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [We spoke of how to say good-bye,” Jem said. “When Jonathan bid farewell to David, he said, ‘Go in peace, for as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-spoke-of-how-to-say-good-bye-jem-said-when-jonathan-bid-farewell/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“She bid him farewell, And scrutinized his silhouette, That slowly faded in the shadows. She whispered, "Au-revoir" To the nocturnal mist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruqayya-shaheed-khan/she-bid-him-farewell-and-scrutinized-his-silhouette-that-slowly-faded/) Ruqayya Shaheed Khan > [“The god abandons Antony When at the hour of midnight an invisible choir is suddenly heard passing with exquisite music, with voices ― Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-p-cavafy/the-god-abandons-antony-when-at-the-hour-of-midnight-an-invisible/) [C.P. Cavafy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-p-cavafy/) > [When once a man is launched on such an adventure as this, he must bid farewell to hopes and fears, otherwise death or deliverance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cs-lewis/when-once-a-man-is-launched-on-such-an-adventure-as-this-he-must-bid/) [CS Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cs-lewis/) > [Now, mark it. This may be strong language, but heed it. The people mean it, and, my friends of the Eastern Democracy, we bid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/now-mark-it-this-may-be-strong-language-but-heed-it-the-people-mean/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here - at this final hour, Harlem has come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hopes - extinguished now, and gone from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ossie-davis/here-at-this-final-hour-harlem-has-come-to-bid-farewell-to-one-of-its/) [Ossie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ossie-davis/) ## More by Bob Dylan > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Don't forget to support your public library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/don-t-forget-to-support-your-public-library/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [You don't count the dead, when god's on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/you-don-t-count-the-dead-when-god-s-on-your-side/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [She makes love just like a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/she-makes-love-just-like-a-woman/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Silvio, I gotta go, find out something only dead men know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/silvio-i-gotta-go-find-out-something-only-dead-men-know/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I don't really have a retirement plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-don-t-really-have-a-retirement-plan/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Just a reminder, if you tell anyone about what happened with Jonah last night, I'll destroy all of my writing and never play music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/just-a-reminder-if-you-tell-anyone-about-what-happened-with-jonah/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Little red wagon, little red bike, I ain’t no monkey but I know what I like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/little-red-wagon-little-red-bike-i-ain-t-no-monkey-but-i-know-what-i/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Twenty years of schooling and they put you on the day shift - look out out kid, they keep it all hid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/twenty-years-of-schooling-and-they-put-you-on-the-day-shift-look-out/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [The drunken politician leaps upon the street where mothers weep, and the saviors who are fast asleep, they wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-drunken-politician-leaps-upon-the-street-where-mothers-weep-and/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/your-eyes-are-like-two-jewels-in-the-sky/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I gotta friend who spends his life, stabbing my picture with a bowie knife. Dreams of strangling me with a scarf, when my name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-gotta-friend-who-spends-his-life-stabbing-my-picture-with-a-bowie/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [She speaks with a stutter and she and she walks with a hop. I don't know why I love her, but I just can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/she-speaks-with-a-stutter-and-she-and-she-walks-with-a-hop-i-don-t/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [The man in the coon skin cap in the pig pen wants eleven dollar bills, you've only got ten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-man-in-the-coon-skin-cap-in-the-pig-pen-wants-eleven-dollar-bills/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Don't put my faith in nobody, not even a scientist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/don-t-put-my-faith-in-nobody-not-even-a-scientist/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) [Explore all 1,018 Bob Dylan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) ## More Arrow quotes > [I'll get that arrow, pretty boy, and I'll do it with my shirt \*on\*. -Yao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mulan/i-ll-get-that-arrow-pretty-boy-and-i-ll-do-it-with-my-shirt-on-yao/) [Mulan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mulan/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) Louaiq8 > [The main thing is to have strings to your bow. You get your badges, you see where life is, and then you see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/the-main-thing-is-to-have-strings-to-your-bow-you-get-your-badges-you/) [Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/) > [There are ceremonious bows that repel one like a cudgel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/there-are-ceremonious-bows-that-repel-one-like-a-cudgel/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Game of Thrones. I'm all about it. I watch Arrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-r-mcqueen/game-of-thrones-i-m-all-about-it-i-watch-arrow/) [Steven R. McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-r-mcqueen/) > [“Took an arrow in the knee on my way through the Eld three summers ago. It gives out every now and then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/took-an-arrow-in-the-knee-on-my-way-through-the-eld-three-summers-ago/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [My Band, Pierce the Arrow, is my other passion along with acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sandoval/my-band-pierce-the-arrow-is-my-other-passion-along-with-acting/) [Tom Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sandoval/) > [If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high... Hooray for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-corey/if-you-shoot-an-arrow-and-it-goes-real-high-hooray-for-you/) [Dorian Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-corey/) > [You can learn from an ordinary bamboo leaf what ought to happen. It bends lower and lower under the weight of snow. Suddenly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/you-can-learn-from-an-ordinary-bamboo-leaf-what-ought-to-happen-it/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) > [“It was chosen by the archer and though it is a long way off, we cannot blame it when we fail to hit it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-was-chosen-by-the-archer-and-though-it-is-a-long-way-off-we-cannot/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Follow your arrow / Wherever it points,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/follow-your-arrow-wherever-it-points/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [If the work is high and far, You must not only aim aright, But draw the bow with all your might.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-the-work-is-high-and-far-you-must-not-only-aim-aright-but-draw-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“How did you kill the Ashman in the forest last year?” “I shot him with an arrow.” “What kind of arrow?” “A sharp one.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-fine/how-did-you-kill-the-ashman-in-the-forest-last-year-i-shot-him-with/) [Chelsea Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-fine/) > [If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-someone-comes-along-and-shoots-an-arrow-into-your-heart-it-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [I must only warn you of one thing. You have become a different person in the course of these years. For this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/i-must-only-warn-you-of-one-thing-you-have-become-a-different-person/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) Browse all 232 Arrow quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But if the arrow is straight And the point is slick, It can pierce through dust no matter how thick. 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