--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not how big your pencil is; it's how…" description: "\"It's not how big your pencil is; it's how you write your name.\" — Dave Mustaine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/dave-mustaine-8615_bigs_it-s-not-how-big-your-pencil-is-it-s-how_1975178.png" --- # It's not how big your pencil is; it's how you write your… ![“It's not how big your pencil is; it's how you write your name.” quote by Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/dave-mustaine-8615_bigs_it-s-not-how-big-your-pencil-is-it-s-how_1975178.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/dave-mustaine-8615_bigs_it-s-not-how-big-your-pencil-is-it-s-how_1975178.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/dave-mustaine-8615_bigs_it-s-not-how-big-your-pencil-is-it-s-how_1975178.png) > “It's not how big your pencil is; it's how you write your name.” [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skill matters more than tools; the impact comes from how you use what you have. **In simple terms:** Your impact depends on how you use your tools. Key Takeaway Focus on mastery over equipment. Themes skill tool craft identity Mood inspirational empowering Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - performance - teaching - creative work Key Concepts personal expression musical technique self‑definition Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve your craft? - What tools best serve your purpose? A Different Perspective Tools can still limit potential if inadequate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big Pencil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-pencil-1713996/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Pencil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pencil/) [Pencil Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pencil-write-650071/) [Pencils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pencils/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [There's still plenty of lead in this pencil, but I only write to one person now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/there-s-still-plenty-of-lead-in-this-pencil-but-i-only-write-to-one/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [Take the pencil and write under my name, 'I forgive her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/take-the-pencil-and-write-under-my-name-i-forgive-her/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [OK, take a quarter, blacken the edge, and then say to someone, 'I bet you can't roll this quarter without it leaving your face'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-green/ok-take-a-quarter-blacken-the-edge-and-then-say-to-someone-i-bet-you/) [Rachel Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-green/) > [Ultimately, to me, the computer is just a big pencil. What can we sketch using this pencil that makes a positive difference to society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oren-etzioni/ultimately-to-me-the-computer-is-just-a-big-pencil-what-can-we-sketch/) [Oren Etzioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oren-etzioni/) > [I am only a little pencil in the hand of our Lord. He may cut or sharpen the pencil. He may write or draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-am-only-a-little-pencil-in-the-hand-of-our-lord-he-may-cut-or/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [In life you are the pencil that write's your own history...¥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luz-e-lopez/in-life-you-are-the-pencil-that-write-s-your-own-history/) [Luz E Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luz-e-lopez/) > [U cN b a pEnCil 2 wRitE sOm1 haPpinEsS oR iF u cNt b a pEnCil, b aN eRaSer 2 rUb sOm1 sAdneSs...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/u-cn-b-a-pencil-2-write-som1-happiness-or-if-u-cnt-b-a-pencil-b-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can't be a pencil to write anyone's happiness, then at least try to be a nice eraser to erase someone's sorrow!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/if-you-can-t-be-a-pencil-to-write-anyone-s-happiness-then-at-least/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [My memory is certainly in my hands. I can remember things only if I have a pencil and I can write with it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/my-memory-is-certainly-in-my-hands-i-can-remember-things-only-if-i/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Said Hamlet to Ophelia, I'll draw a sketch of thee. What kind of pencil shall I use? 2B or not 2B?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/said-hamlet-to-ophelia-i-ll-draw-a-sketch-of-thee-what-kind-of-pencil/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [I put my pencil upon the paper, doubtfully, and drew little lines, considering my theme. But I would not long hesitate in this manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/i-put-my-pencil-upon-the-paper-doubtfully-and-drew-little-lines/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [With pencil there is a tendency to be timid, either using very faint lines or erasing bad lines... Line sketching tends to emphasize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laseau/with-pencil-there-is-a-tendency-to-be-timid-either-using-very-faint/) [Paul Laseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laseau/) > [But I had never drawn on a tablet before. I've been doing pencil and paper and film for almost 20 years. I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-hertzfeldt/but-i-had-never-drawn-on-a-tablet-before-i-ve-been-doing-pencil-and/) [Don Hertzfeldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-hertzfeldt/) > [Arithmetic is numbers you squeeze from your head to your hand to your pencil to your paper till you get the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/arithmetic-is-numbers-you-squeeze-from-your-head-to-your-hand-to-your/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [I've got to feel the pencil and see the words at the end of the pencil,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-ve-got-to-feel-the-pencil-and-see-the-words-at-the-end-of-the-pencil/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) ## More by Dave Mustaine > [I care more about what God knows than what man says.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/i-care-more-about-what-god-knows-than-what-man-says/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [The very first schoolbook that was written had God all over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/the-very-first-schoolbook-that-was-written-had-god-all-over-it/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [I went there anyway-knowingly, willingly-because I wanted a number one hit. I wanted what Metallica had, even if it meant selling a piece of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/i-went-there-anyway-knowingly-willingly-because-i-wanted-a-number-one/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [Besides, the bass isn't a difficult instrument to play. It's like one step up from the kazoo, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/besides-the-bass-isn-t-a-difficult-instrument-to-play-it-s-like-one/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [My guitar was a loyal person to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/my-guitar-was-a-loyal-person-to-me/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [I want to write something that makes it easy for young people to look right into the abyss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/i-want-to-write-something-that-makes-it-easy-for-young-people-to-look/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [If I know I'm going crazy, I must not be insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/if-i-know-i-m-going-crazy-i-must-not-be-insane/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [I guess because I had such a horrible life growing up, going from place to place not knowing what I was gonna do and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/i-guess-because-i-had-such-a-horrible-life-growing-up-going-from/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [To me, the most important thing was to treat people the way you want to be treated. Some people say that I'm a mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/to-me-the-most-important-thing-was-to-treat-people-the-way-you-want/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [Military intelligence, two words combined that cant make sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/military-intelligence-two-words-combined-that-cant-make-sense/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [Megadeth doesn't sound anything like Metallica.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/megadeth-doesn-t-sound-anything-like-metallica/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [“These guys were my friends, and despite our periodic disagreements, I trusted them. My mistake. Just one of many, as it turned out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/these-guys-were-my-friends-and-despite-our-periodic-disagreements-i/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [Ask the sheep for their beliefs... Do you kill on God's command?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/ask-the-sheep-for-their-beliefs-do-you-kill-on-god-s-command/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [“Finally, I found what seemed at the time to be a lid of some sort. Presuming it was a toilet seat (but not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/finally-i-found-what-seemed-at-the-time-to-be-a-lid-of-some-sort/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [We got a new song called 'Ashes in Your Mouth,' and it is NOT about a joint falling apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/we-got-a-new-song-called-ashes-in-your-mouth-and-it-is-not-about-a/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) [Explore all 78 Dave Mustaine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) ## 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": "It's not how big your pencil is; it's how you write your name.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dave Mustaine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/it-s-not-how-big-your-pencil-is-it-s-how-you-write-your-name/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bigs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/it-s-not-how-big-your-pencil-is-it-s-how-you-write-your-name/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/dave-mustaine-8615_bigs_it-s-not-how-big-your-pencil-is-it-s-how_1975178.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/dave-mustaine-8615_bigs_it-s-not-how-big-your-pencil-is-it-s-how_1975178.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d6/dave-mustaine-8615_bigs_it-s-not-how-big-your-pencil-is-it-s-how_1975178.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not how big your pencil is; it's how you write your name.” — Dave Mustaine", "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": "Dave Mustaine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not how big your pencil...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/it-s-not-how-big-your-pencil-is-it-s-how-you-write-your-name/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/it-s-not-how-big-your-pencil-is-it-s-how-you-write-your-name/#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 } } ] } ```