--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we are very young, we tend to regard…" description: "\"When we are very young, we tend to regard the ability to use a colon much as a budding pianist regards the ability to play with crossed hands: many of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/eric-partridge-55373_ability_when-we-are-very-young-we-tend-to-regard_1453886.jpg" --- # When we are very young, we tend to regard the ability to… ![“When we are very young, we tend to regard the ability to use a colon much as a budding pianist regards the ability to play with crossed hands: many of us, when we are older, regard it as a proof of literary skill, maturity, even of sophistication; and many; whether young, not so young, or old…” quote by Eric Partridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/eric-partridge-55373_ability_when-we-are-very-young-we-tend-to-regard_1453886.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/eric-partridge-55373_ability_when-we-are-very-young-we-tend-to-regard_1453886.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/eric-partridge-55373_ability_when-we-are-very-young-we-tend-to-regard_1453886.jpg) > “When we are very young, we tend to regard the ability to use a colon much as a budding pianist regards the ability to play with crossed hands: many of us, when we are older, regard it as a proof of literary skill, maturity, even of sophistication; and many; whether young, not so young, or old, employ it gauchely, haphazardly, or at best inconsistently.” [Eric Partridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-partridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The colon is often misused as a status symbol rather than a clear grammatical tool, leading to inconsistent and pretentious writing. **In simple terms:** People misuse colons to seem sophisticated. Key Takeaway Use colons purposefully, not for show. Themes writing grammar style communication precision Mood critical reflective Type instructional analytical When to use this quote - academic essays - editorial work - creative writing - business reports - public speaking Key Concepts rhetoric punctuation literary criticism Questions to Reflect On - Do you prioritize clarity over flair? - How does punctuation affect credibility? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on form can obscure meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Maturity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maturity/) [Pianist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pianist/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Sophistication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophistication/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“A rain forest springs from the droppings of animals and grows greater than any cultivated garden; likewise, a great mass of literary skill springs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agona-apell/a-rain-forest-springs-from-the-droppings-of-animals-and-grows-greater/) [Agona Apell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agona-apell/) > [Mum was a brilliant classical pianist. She was Canadian and studied music at McGill University. She took me to ballet when I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-quentin/mum-was-a-brilliant-classical-pianist-she-was-canadian-and-studied/) [Caroline Quentin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-quentin/) > [I find that in California I can't find guys that have enough energy. They play a little bit and that's about it. They play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharoah-sanders/i-find-that-in-california-i-can-t-find-guys-that-have-enough-energy/) [Pharoah Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharoah-sanders/) > [When I was studying... there weren't any black concert pianists. My choices were intuitive, and I had the technique to do it. People have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/when-i-was-studying-there-weren-t-any-black-concert-pianists-my/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [My father was a stone mason, and a talented amateur pianist and vocalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-walker/my-father-was-a-stone-mason-and-a-talented-amateur-pianist-and/) [John E. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-walker/) > [My grandmother was a classical pianist, so I grew up with Schubert, Mozart, Beethoven. I studied piano as a kid. My musical background and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillipa-soo/my-grandmother-was-a-classical-pianist-so-i-grew-up-with-schubert/) [Phillipa Soo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillipa-soo/) > [“To wake up one day and be Steinway and Glen in One... Glen Steinway, Steinway Glen, all for Bach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bernhard/to-wake-up-one-day-and-be-steinway-and-glen-in-one-glen-steinway/) [Thomas Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bernhard/) > [I decided during my teens that I wasn't going to have the life of a concert pianist, much to the chagrin of a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cy-coleman/i-decided-during-my-teens-that-i-wasn-t-going-to-have-the-life-of-a/) [Cy Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cy-coleman/) > [I would also like to mention pianists like Michel Petrucciani or Chick Сorea for whom I have great admiration in the jazz field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-clayderman/i-would-also-like-to-mention-pianists-like-michel-petrucciani-or/) [Richard Clayderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-clayderman/) > [In fact although I have studied in a Conservatory the classical piano, I do not consider myself a classical pianist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-clayderman/in-fact-although-i-have-studied-in-a-conservatory-the-classical-piano/) [Richard Clayderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-clayderman/) > [Please do not shoot the pianist. He is doing his best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/please-do-not-shoot-the-pianist-he-is-doing-his-best/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [A mission that comes from the heart to promote these things and to encourage composers to write, then of course they should do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andre-hamelin/a-mission-that-comes-from-the-heart-to-promote-these-things-and-to/) [Marc-Andre Hamelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andre-hamelin/) > [I want to act in a film like 'The Pianist.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-dev/i-want-to-act-in-a-film-like-the-pianist/) [Rahul Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-dev/) > [My family was musical on both sides. My father's family had a famous flautist and a classical pianist. My mother won a contest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/my-family-was-musical-on-both-sides-my-father-s-family-had-a-famous/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [My dad's family were political and he was always a theatrical creature, whereas my mum is really musical and her father was the touring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/my-dad-s-family-were-political-and-he-was-always-a-theatrical/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) ## More by Eric Partridge > [“To be mulcted of our money and mutilated of our property is serious enough: to be deprived of our colon would be intolerable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-partridge/to-be-mulcted-of-our-money-and-mutilated-of-our-property-is-serious/) [Eric Partridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-partridge/) > [A dash derives from "to dash," to shatter, strike violently, to throw suddenly or violently, hence to throw carelessly in or on, hence to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-partridge/a-dash-derives-from-to-dash-to-shatter-strike-violently-to-throw/) [Eric Partridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-partridge/) > [War…next to love, has most captured the world’s imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-partridge/war-next-to-love-has-most-captured-the-world-s-imagination/) [Eric Partridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-partridge/) > [“War…next to love, has most captured the world’s imagination” – Eric Partridge, famous lexicographer and author who served in the Australian Imperial Force during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-partridge/war-next-to-love-has-most-captured-the-world-s-imagination-eric/) [Eric Partridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-partridge/) > [Like italics and hyphens, quotation marks are to be used as sparingly as possible. They should light the way, not darken it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-partridge/like-italics-and-hyphens-quotation-marks-are-to-be-used-as-sparingly/) [Eric Partridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-partridge/) [Explore all 6 Eric Partridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-partridge/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. 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I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we are very young, we tend to regard the ability to use a colon much as a budding pianist regards the ability to play with crossed hands: many of us, when we are older, regard it as a proof of literary skill, maturity, even of sophistication; and many; whether young, not so young, or old, employ it gauchely, haphazardly, or at best inconsistently.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Partridge" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-partridge/when-we-are-very-young-we-tend-to-regard-the-ability-to-use-a-colon/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-partridge/when-we-are-very-young-we-tend-to-regard-the-ability-to-use-a-colon/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/eric-partridge-55373_ability_when-we-are-very-young-we-tend-to-regard_1453886.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/eric-partridge-55373_ability_when-we-are-very-young-we-tend-to-regard_1453886.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/eric-partridge-55373_ability_when-we-are-very-young-we-tend-to-regard_1453886.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we are very young, we tend to regard the ability to use a colon much as a budding pianist regards the…” — Eric Partridge", "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": "Eric Partridge", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-partridge/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we are very young, we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-partridge/when-we-are-very-young-we-tend-to-regard-the-ability-to-use-a-colon/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-partridge/when-we-are-very-young-we-tend-to-regard-the-ability-to-use-a-colon/#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 } } ] } ```