Careful Quote by Clifton Fadiman
“A man who is careful with his palate is not likely to be careless with his paragraphs.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Reading, 1972
Being meticulous about taste reflects a broader discipline in writing.
In simple terms: Careful taste predicts careful writing.
Key Takeaway
Pay attention to detail in all pursuits.
Themes
discipline
writing
taste
attention
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
advice
observational
When to use this quote
- editing
- creative writing
- culinary arts
- personal habits
Key Concepts
mindfulness
craftsmanship
precision
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you notice patterns between your habits?
- How does sensory awareness influence your work?
A Different Perspective
Neglecting one area can still affect another.
![“Yes sir. You can be more careless, you can put more trash in [a novel] and be excused for it. In a short story that's next to the poem, almost every word has got to be almost exactly right. In the novel you can be careless but in the short story you can't. I mean by that the good short stories…” quote by William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ff6/william-faulkner-306_absolutes_yes-sir-you-can-be-more-careless-you-can_1716854.jpg)
![“[Books] will visit you at your convenience, whether you are lonesome or not, on rainy days or fair. They propose themselves as either transient acquaintances or permanent friends. They will stay as long as you like, departing or returning as you wish. Their friendship entails no obligation. Best…” quote by Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08b/clifton-fadiman-11053_acquaintance_books-will-visit-you-at-your-convenience_75546.jpg)
![“Seriously, I do not know what to say of this book [ Absalom, Absalom!] except that it seem to point to the final blowup of what was once a remarkable, if minor, talent… this is a penny dreadful tricked up in fancy language and given a specious depth by the expert manipulation of a series of…” quote by Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cc1/clifton-fadiman-11053_book_seriously-i-do-not-know-what-to-say-of-t_494033.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)
