--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If he [Pound] is not careful he will take…" description: "\"“If he [Pound] is not careful he will take to meaning what he says instead of saying what he means.”\" — Edward Thomas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/edward-thomas-23008_careful_if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take_415554.jpg" --- # If he \[Pound\] is not careful he will take to meaning what… ![“If he [Pound] is not careful he will take to meaning what he says instead of saying what he means.” quote by Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/edward-thomas-23008_careful_if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take_415554.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/edward-thomas-23008_careful_if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take_415554.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/edward-thomas-23008_careful_if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take_415554.jpg) > ““If he \[Pound\] is not careful he will take to meaning what he says instead of saying what he means.”” [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He warns that misusing language can cause people to focus on literal meaning rather than intended meaning. **In simple terms:** Misinterpretation happens when words are taken at face value. Key Takeaway Be precise and clarify intent. Themes communication interpretation clarity Mood thoughtful cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - writing - teaching - conflict resolution Key Concepts semantics intent language precision Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure your words convey your true intent? - What steps can you take to avoid misinterpretation? A Different Perspective Literal focus can obscure deeper meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Careful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful/) [Careful Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful-meaning-3696012/) [Instead Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead-saying-607989/) [Pound Careful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pound-careful-3696011/) [Says Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-instead-1412336/) ## Related quotes > [“My mom used to tell me not to judge a guy by what he says, but instead to pay attention to what he actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-cross/my-mom-used-to-tell-me-not-to-judge-a-guy-by-what-he-says-but-instead/) [Julie Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-cross/) > [What he means by this is that instead of saying you'll "try", you need to "do". And as we let our light shine, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/what-he-means-by-this-is-that-instead-of-saying-you-ll-try-you-need/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [INSTEAD OF SAYING WHY, SAY WHY NOT. TAKE A CHANCE. LIVE! BE WHO YOU WERE MEANT TO BE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-saying-why-say-why-not-take-a-chance-live-be-who-you-were/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Somehow it seems more clever to refer to something instead of saying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-hill/somehow-it-seems-more-clever-to-refer-to-something-instead-of-saying/) [Dusty Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-hill/) > [It is wrong for me to say I can't live without you cause I have lived my life before I knew you. So instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/it-is-wrong-for-me-to-say-i-can-t-live-without-you-cause-i-have-lived/) [Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/) > [You should start living for the one you love,instead of always saying you wil die for them..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siyabonga-plegend/you-should-start-living-for-the-one-you-love-instead-of-always-saying/) [Siyabonga Plegend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siyabonga-plegend/) > [“Instead of saying, "Next time he does this, I will ... ", say, "Next time he does that, I will show him more patience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-antonio-hall/instead-of-saying-next-time-he-does-this-i-will-say-next-time-he-does/) [Ace Antonio Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-antonio-hall/) > [“Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/instead-of-saying-i-don-t-have-time-try-saying-it-s-not-a-priority/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [“instead of saying "fifty-five and older," say "fifty-five and better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-conrad-levinson/instead-of-saying-fifty-five-and-older-say-fifty-five-and-better/) [Jay Conrad Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-conrad-levinson/) > [“Instead of saying, “You know, my house has water,” we say, “My plumbing is leaking.” Instead of saying, “Somebody has cancer,” we should say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-agus/instead-of-saying-you-know-my-house-has-water-we-say-my-plumbing-is/) [David B. Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-agus/) > [ Instead saying 'LOL' I'm gonna say 'SALTS' \[ smiled a little then stopped \] Its more truthful ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-saying-lol-i-m-gonna-say-salts-smiled-a-little-then-stopped/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want people to surprise themselves. Instead of saying "Oh, god, didn't we already do this 17 times?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/i-want-people-to-surprise-themselves-instead-of-saying-oh-god-didn-t/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [“Instead of saying, 'why me? Out of the hundreds of thousands out there, why must it be me?' When you can be thinking 'well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unicornfarts2000/instead-of-saying-why-me-out-of-the-hundreds-of-thousands-out-there/) [Unicornfarts2000](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unicornfarts2000/) > [I'd rather look back at my past and say, I can't believe I did that! instead of saying, I wish I did that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/i-d-rather-look-back-at-my-past-and-say-i-can-t-believe-i-did-that/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [“Instead of saying "I can’t do that," I want you to start saying "I can’t do that, yet!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-van-horn/instead-of-saying-i-can-t-do-that-i-want-you-to-start-saying-i-can-t/) [Bruce Van Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-van-horn/) ## More by Edward Thomas > [A merely great intellect can produce prose, but not poetry, not one line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/a-merely-great-intellect-can-produce-prose-but-not-poetry-not-one-line/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [If I should ever by chance grow richI'll buy Codham, Cockridden, and Childerditch,Roses, Pyrgo, and Lapwater,And let them all to my eldest daughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/if-i-should-ever-by-chance-grow-richi-ll-buy-codham-cockridden-and/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [To-day I think Only with scents, - scents dead leaves yield, And bracken, and wild carrot's seed, And the square mustard field; Odours that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/to-day-i-think-only-with-scents-scents-dead-leaves-yield-and-bracken/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [I like to think how easily Nature will absorb London as she absorbed the mastodon, setting her spiders to spin the winding-sheet and her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/i-like-to-think-how-easily-nature-will-absorb-london-as-she-absorbed/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [“Tall Nettles Tall nettles cover up, as they have done These many springs, the rusty harrow, the plough Long worn out, and the roller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/tall-nettles-tall-nettles-cover-up-as-they-have-done-these-many/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [“You English words? I know you: You are light as dreams, Tough as oak, Precious as gold, As poppies and corn, Or an old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/you-english-words-i-know-you-you-are-light-as-dreams-tough-as-oak/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [How nice it would be to be dead if only we could know we were dead. That is what I hate, the not being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/how-nice-it-would-be-to-be-dead-if-only-we-could-know-we-were-dead/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [“Rain, midnight rain, nothing but the wild rain On this bleak hut, and solitude, and me Remembering again that I shall die And neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/rain-midnight-rain-nothing-but-the-wild-rain-on-this-bleak-hut-and/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [Yes; I remember Adlestrop- The name, because one afternoon Of heat the express-train drew up there Unwontedly. It was late June.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/yes-i-remember-adlestrop-the-name-because-one-afternoon-of-heat-the/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [Over the land freckled with snow half-thawed The speculating rooks at their nests cawed And saw from elm tops, delicate as flower of grass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/over-the-land-freckled-with-snow-half-thawed-the-speculating-rooks-at/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [“This ploughman dead in battle slept out of doors Many a frozen night, and merrily Answered staid drinkers, good bedmen, and all bores: "At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/this-ploughman-dead-in-battle-slept-out-of-doors-many-a-frozen-night/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [I built myself a house of glass:It took me years to make it:And I was proud. But now, alas!Would God someone would break it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/i-built-myself-a-house-of-glass-it-took-me-years-to-make-it-and-i-was/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [Making war or rebellion is messy, like eating soup off a knife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/making-war-or-rebellion-is-messy-like-eating-soup-off-a-knife/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [I, too, often shrivel the grey shreds,Sniff them and think and sniff again and tryOnce more to think what it is I am remembering,Always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/i-too-often-shrivel-the-grey-shreds-sniff-them-and-think-and-sniff/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) > [“You cannot make chicken salad out of Chicken shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/you-cannot-make-chicken-salad-out-of-chicken-shit/) [Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) [Explore all 26 Edward Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/) ## More Careful quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Only careful political manoeuvring will be able to manage the situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davan-yahya-khalil/only-careful-political-manoeuvring-will-be-able-to-manage-the/) [Davan Yahya Khalil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davan-yahya-khalil/) > [Be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the worst Spanish student in the history of the language.” I laughed. “No problemo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/be-careful-i-wouldn-t-want-anything-to-happen-to-the-worst-spanish/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/) [Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/) > [Physical beauty is not everything, but the beauty is more careful than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/physical-beauty-is-not-everything-but-the-beauty-is-more-careful-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think about what you do, if you become self-conscious about it, you've got to be very careful. Because I really like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/if-you-think-about-what-you-do-if-you-become-self-conscious-about-it/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [ \[A\]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.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [Be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone-2/be-careful-the-friends-you-choose-for-you-will-become-like-them/) [W Clement Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-clement-stone-2/) > [A woman who is careful with her words is a gift to all who know her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/a-woman-who-is-careful-with-her-words-is-a-gift-to-all-who-know-her/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have to be careful to get out before I become the grotesque caricature of a hatchet-faced woman with big knockers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-have-to-be-careful-to-get-out-before-i-become-the-grotesque/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-james/i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if-and-when-problems-happen-it-s/) [Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-james/) > [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) [Browse all 2,861 Careful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If he [Pound] is not careful he will take to meaning what he says instead of saying what he means.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Thomas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take-to-meaning-what-he-says/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Careful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take-to-meaning-what-he-says/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/edward-thomas-23008_careful_if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take_415554.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/edward-thomas-23008_careful_if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take_415554.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/edward-thomas-23008_careful_if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take_415554.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If he [Pound] is not careful he will take to meaning what he says instead of saying what he means.” — Edward Thomas", "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": "Edward Thomas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If he [Pound] is not careful...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take-to-meaning-what-he-says/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomas/if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take-to-meaning-what-he-says/#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 } } ] } ```