--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I prefer a pen in my hand to a cigarette…" description: "\"I prefer a pen in my hand to a cigarette when I drink. It generally works out better for everybody. -D.\" — D Michael Hardy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/d-michael-hardy-36071_cigarette_i-prefer-a-pen-in-my-hand-to-a-cigarette_2545890.jpg" --- # I prefer a pen in my hand to a cigarette when I drink. It… ![“I prefer a pen in my hand to a cigarette when I drink. It generally works out better for everybody. -D.” quote by D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/d-michael-hardy-36071_cigarette_i-prefer-a-pen-in-my-hand-to-a-cigarette_2545890.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/d-michael-hardy-36071_cigarette_i-prefer-a-pen-in-my-hand-to-a-cigarette_2545890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/d-michael-hardy-36071_cigarette_i-prefer-a-pen-in-my-hand-to-a-cigarette_2545890.jpg) > “I prefer a pen in my hand to a cigarette when I drink. It generally works out better for everybody. -D.” [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing a pen over a cigarette while drinking promotes healthier habits and social responsibility. **In simple terms:** Write instead of smoking. Key Takeaway Replace smoking with writing. Themes health habit choice Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type personal advice When to use this quote - social gatherings - stress relief Key Concepts addiction self‑control Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your smoking? - Can writing fulfill the same need? A Different Perspective May not address underlying addiction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cigarette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“The strong man lit a cigarette. It looked too frail for his hand. They looked like King Kong and Fay Wray, that hand, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-thomson/the-strong-man-lit-a-cigarette-it-looked-too-frail-for-his-hand-they/) [Rupert Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-thomson/) > [I prefer the pen. There is something elemental about the glide and flow of nib and ink on paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-robertson/i-prefer-the-pen-there-is-something-elemental-about-the-glide-and/) [James Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-robertson/) > [You can accept or reject the way you are treated by other people, but until you heal the wounds of your past, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-can-accept-or-reject-the-way-you-are-treated-by-other-people-but/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a-very-small-thing-maybe-just-a/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I am a completely horizontal author. I can't think unless I'm lying down, either in bed or stretched on a couch and with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-am-a-completely-horizontal-author-i-can-t-think-unless-i-m-lying/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [The ratings thing is the real issue. It really hurts movies. For example, in Redbelt, I smoked. The whole plot of my character was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/the-ratings-thing-is-the-real-issue-it-really-hurts-movies-for/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) > [If all boys could be made to know that with every breath of cigarette smoke they inhale imbecility and exhale manhood ... and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-maxim/if-all-boys-could-be-made-to-know-that-with-every-breath-of-cigarette/) Hudson Maxim > [They represent tomorrow's cigarette business. . . As this 14-24 age group matures, they will account for a key share of the total cigarette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-reynolds/they-represent-tomorrow-s-cigarette-business-as-this-14-24-age-group/) [R. J. Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-reynolds/) > [“When I was young” … “Before I was twenty, I mean, I used to think that life was a thing that kept gaining impetus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bowles/when-i-was-young-before-i-was-twenty-i-mean-i-used-to-think-that-life/) [Paul Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bowles/) > [If the fact that people make poor decisions is reason enough for the government to second-guess their decisions about dangerous activities such as smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-sullum/if-the-fact-that-people-make-poor-decisions-is-reason-enough-for-the/) Jacob Sullum > [Since I don't smoke, I decided to grow a mustache - it is better for the health. However, I always carried a jewel-studded cigarette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/since-i-don-t-smoke-i-decided-to-grow-a-mustache-it-is-better-for-the/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [We have too many preacherettes preaching too many sermonettes to too many Christianettes smoking cigarettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/we-have-too-many-preacherettes-preaching-too-many-sermonettes-to-too/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) Richard Doll > [Books were always important. I have to thank my father, he filled my life with books. He didn't write but he always read. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rawi-hage/books-were-always-important-i-have-to-thank-my-father-he-filled-my/) [Rawi Hage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rawi-hage/) > [“Yeah,' I said and started smoking another cigarette. Unless I inform you otherwise, I'm always smoking another cigarette.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/yeah-i-said-and-started-smoking-another-cigarette-unless-i-inform-you/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) ## More by D Michael Hardy > [Can't is the tool of the defeatist. You have to believe, and you have to fight if you want your dreams to come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/can-t-is-the-tool-of-the-defeatist-you-have-to-believe-and-you-have/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) > [If you have issues with porn or sex scenes in movies, you probably have issues with your own sexuality. -D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/if-you-have-issues-with-porn-or-sex-scenes-in-movies-you-probably/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) > [Some will think your writing is genius. Some will think it juvenile. What's important is that you, the writer, are satisfied with your work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/some-will-think-your-writing-is-genius-some-will-think-it-juvenile/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) > [You get to that point in life where change is inevitable. A change in scenery, a change of wardrobe, a change in the structure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/you-get-to-that-point-in-life-where-change-is-inevitable-a-change-in/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) > [Those members of the male species who honk at women walking along the road or don't know how to take no for an answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/those-members-of-the-male-species-who-honk-at-women-walking-along-the/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) > [Life is too short to waste time reading shitty literature. There are plenty of other books in the sea...~D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/life-is-too-short-to-waste-time-reading-shitty-literature-there-are/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) > [Sometimes I think about selling 90% of everything I own. I think it would be liberating. -D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/sometimes-i-think-about-selling-90-of-everything-i-own-i-think-it/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) > [Love is just a temporary cure for alcoholism. -D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/love-is-just-a-temporary-cure-for-alcoholism-d/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) > [I don't believe romance and chivalry are dead...I think they've just been beaten up, tied up, and buried alive. But that doesn't mean they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/i-don-t-believe-romance-and-chivalry-are-dead-i-think-they-ve-just/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) > [No matter what you do, you're going to make some enemies in life. It's inevitable. -D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/no-matter-what-you-do-you-re-going-to-make-some-enemies-in-life-it-s/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) > [People should be cautious how they treat writers, lest their faults become immortalized for the world to see. - D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/people-should-be-cautious-how-they-treat-writers-lest-their-faults/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) > [There's a great feeling of relief when finishing a good book, but also a sadness. You get to know the characters so well, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/there-s-a-great-feeling-of-relief-when-finishing-a-good-book-but-also/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) [Explore all 13 D Michael Hardy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) ## More Cigarette quotes > [“Yeah,' I said and started smoking another cigarette. Unless I inform you otherwise, I'm always smoking another cigarette.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/yeah-i-said-and-started-smoking-another-cigarette-unless-i-inform-you/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [Books were always important. I have to thank my father, he filled my life with books. He didn't write but he always read. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rawi-hage/books-were-always-important-i-have-to-thank-my-father-he-filled-my/) [Rawi Hage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rawi-hage/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) Richard Doll > [We have too many preacherettes preaching too many sermonettes to too many Christianettes smoking cigarettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/we-have-too-many-preacherettes-preaching-too-many-sermonettes-to-too/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [Since I don't smoke, I decided to grow a mustache - it is better for the health. However, I always carried a jewel-studded cigarette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/since-i-don-t-smoke-i-decided-to-grow-a-mustache-it-is-better-for-the/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [If the fact that people make poor decisions is reason enough for the government to second-guess their decisions about dangerous activities such as smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-sullum/if-the-fact-that-people-make-poor-decisions-is-reason-enough-for-the/) Jacob Sullum > [“When I was young” … “Before I was twenty, I mean, I used to think that life was a thing that kept gaining impetus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bowles/when-i-was-young-before-i-was-twenty-i-mean-i-used-to-think-that-life/) [Paul Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bowles/) > [They represent tomorrow's cigarette business. . . As this 14-24 age group matures, they will account for a key share of the total cigarette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-reynolds/they-represent-tomorrow-s-cigarette-business-as-this-14-24-age-group/) [R. J. Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-reynolds/) > [If all boys could be made to know that with every breath of cigarette smoke they inhale imbecility and exhale manhood ... and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-maxim/if-all-boys-could-be-made-to-know-that-with-every-breath-of-cigarette/) Hudson Maxim > [The ratings thing is the real issue. It really hurts movies. For example, in Redbelt, I smoked. The whole plot of my character was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/the-ratings-thing-is-the-real-issue-it-really-hurts-movies-for/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) > [I am a completely horizontal author. I can't think unless I'm lying down, either in bed or stretched on a couch and with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-am-a-completely-horizontal-author-i-can-t-think-unless-i-m-lying/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a-very-small-thing-maybe-just-a/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [You can accept or reject the way you are treated by other people, but until you heal the wounds of your past, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-can-accept-or-reject-the-way-you-are-treated-by-other-people-but/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Then he bummed a cigarette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-rogers/then-he-bummed-a-cigarette/) [Kenny Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-rogers/) > [You're a religious man, ... You believe in God and life after death. I also believe. When we come to the other world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/you-re-a-religious-man-you-believe-in-god-and-life-after-death-i-also/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) [Browse all 787 Cigarette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I prefer a pen in my hand to a cigarette when I drink. It generally works out better for everybody. -D.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "D Michael Hardy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/i-prefer-a-pen-in-my-hand-to-a-cigarette-when-i-drink-it-generally/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cigarette" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/i-prefer-a-pen-in-my-hand-to-a-cigarette-when-i-drink-it-generally/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/d-michael-hardy-36071_cigarette_i-prefer-a-pen-in-my-hand-to-a-cigarette_2545890.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/d-michael-hardy-36071_cigarette_i-prefer-a-pen-in-my-hand-to-a-cigarette_2545890.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/d-michael-hardy-36071_cigarette_i-prefer-a-pen-in-my-hand-to-a-cigarette_2545890.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I prefer a pen in my hand to a cigarette when I drink. It generally works out better for everybody. -D.” — D Michael Hardy", "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": "D Michael Hardy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I prefer a pen in my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/i-prefer-a-pen-in-my-hand-to-a-cigarette-when-i-drink-it-generally/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/i-prefer-a-pen-in-my-hand-to-a-cigarette-when-i-drink-it-generally/#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 } } ] } ```