--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I write by ear. I tried writing with the…" description: "\"I write by ear. I tried writing with the typewriter, but I found it too unwieldy\" — Groucho Marx" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac1/groucho-marx-788_ears_i-write-by-ear-i-tried-writing-with-the_2082845.jpg" --- # I write by ear. I tried writing with the typewriter, but I… ![“I write by ear. I tried writing with the typewriter, but I found it too unwieldy” quote by Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac1/groucho-marx-788_ears_i-write-by-ear-i-tried-writing-with-the_2082845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac1/groucho-marx-788_ears_i-write-by-ear-i-tried-writing-with-the_2082845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac1/groucho-marx-788_ears_i-write-by-ear-i-tried-writing-with-the_2082845.jpg) > “I write by ear. I tried writing with the typewriter, but I found it too unwieldy” [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He prefers spontaneous, oral creation over mechanical typing, finding the latter cumbersome. **In simple terms:** He writes by ear, not by typewriter. Key Takeaway Embrace your natural creative flow. Themes creativity spontaneity technology critique Mood humorous reflective Type anecdotal artistic When to use this quote - writing - performing arts - design work Key Concepts artistic process hand‑crafted vs. mechanized Questions to Reflect On - When does spontaneity hinder clarity? - Can technology complement your style? A Different Perspective Rigid tools can enhance precision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Tried Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-writing-536217/) [Typewriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typewriter/) [Typewriter Unwieldy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typewriter-unwieldy-4076739/) [Typewriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typewriters/) [Write Ear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-ear-4076740/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Typewriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-typewriter-3688626/) ## Related quotes > [If I had my choice, I would be writing by typewriter. I worked on newspapers for 10 years. I typed with the touch system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/if-i-had-my-choice-i-would-be-writing-by-typewriter-i-worked-on/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [The more of my readers I encounter who say, often apologetically, that they are actually listeners, the more I write for the ear rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/the-more-of-my-readers-i-encounter-who-say-often-apologetically-that/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [I've always known I could write. I have an ear for production and melody. It was just that, in those early years, I let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-carlisle/i-ve-always-known-i-could-write-i-have-an-ear-for-production-and/) [Belinda Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-carlisle/) > [I still have a full-time day job, which is why it took me five years to write An Ear to the Ground, and why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-thompson/i-still-have-a-full-time-day-job-which-is-why-it-took-me-five-years/) [Ken Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-thompson/) > [You will never work through writer's block if you walk away from your typewriter. That will only make it easier to walk away the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-frey/you-will-never-work-through-writer-s-block-if-you-walk-away-from-your/) [James N. Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-n-frey/) > [I talk to my typewriter and that is what I've been working on for 40 years-how to write for talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cooke/i-talk-to-my-typewriter-and-that-is-what-i-ve-been-working-on-for-40/) [Alistair Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cooke/) > [Whenever I try to do anything on a typewriter, it's like having this machine between me and the words; what comes out is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/whenever-i-try-to-do-anything-on-a-typewriter-it-s-like-having-this/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [If you give me a typewriter and I'm having a good day, I can write a scene that will astonish its readers. That will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/if-you-give-me-a-typewriter-and-i-m-having-a-good-day-i-can-write-a/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [The great fun in my life has been getting up every morning and rushing to the typewriter because some new idea has hit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-great-fun-in-my-life-has-been-getting-up-every-morning-and/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Especially once those poetry events began, because, yeah, the stuff was still on the page, but the page was starting to spill into real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/especially-once-those-poetry-events-began-because-yeah-the-stuff-was/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [I can write faster on a typewriter than you can on a computer. I do 120 words a minute, and you can't do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-can-write-faster-on-a-typewriter-than-you-can-on-a-computer-i-do/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [When I write, I use an Underwood #5 made in 1920. Someone gave me an electric typewriter, but there's no use pretending you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/when-i-write-i-use-an-underwood-5-made-in-1920-someone-gave-me-an/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [I publish six books a year now, which is very exciting. But it keeps me into my typewriter at all times! Now that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/i-publish-six-books-a-year-now-which-is-very-exciting-but-it-keeps-me/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [I began by doing book reviews on the typewriter and then went over to short stories on the machine, meanwhile sticking to pencil for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-aiken/i-began-by-doing-book-reviews-on-the-typewriter-and-then-went-over-to/) [Conrad Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-aiken/) > [My boyfriend got me a computer three years ago. I'll admit it does make things a lot easier. When I was working on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/my-boyfriend-got-me-a-computer-three-years-ago-i-ll-admit-it-does/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## More by Groucho Marx > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of one's fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/there-is-no-sweeter-sound-than-the-crumbling-of-one-s-fellow-man/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Television is where you watch people in your living room that you would not want near your house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/television-is-where-you-watch-people-in-your-living-room-that-you/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [ He \[Groucho's father\] had absolutely no training, and if you had ever seen one of his suits, you'd realize what an accurate statement that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/he-groucho-s-father-had-absolutely-no-training-and-if-you-had-ever/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Women should be obscene and not heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/women-should-be-obscene-and-not-heard/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Why would I want to join an organization that would encourage people like myself to become members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/why-would-i-want-to-join-an-organization-that-would-encourage-people/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and that's not saying much for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/you-re-the-most-beautiful-woman-i-ve-ever-seen-and-that-s-not-saying/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [The only game I like to play is "Old Maid", providing she's not too old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/the-only-game-i-like-to-play-is-old-maid-providing-she-s-not-too-old/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/who-are-you-going-to-believe-me-or-your-own-eyes/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [My favourite poem is the one that starts 'Thirty days hath September' because it actually tells you something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/my-favourite-poem-is-the-one-that-starts-thirty-days-hath-september/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Afraid? Me? A man who's licked his weight in wild caterpillars?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/afraid-me-a-man-who-s-licked-his-weight-in-wild-caterpillars/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [I hate London when it's not raining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/i-hate-london-when-it-s-not-raining/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/i-never-forget-a-face-but-in-your-case-i-ll-be-glad-to-make-an/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Let there be dancing in the streets, drinking in the saloons, and necking in the parlor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/let-there-be-dancing-in-the-streets-drinking-in-the-saloons-and/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [If women dressed for men, the stores wouldn't sell much - just an occasional sun visor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/if-women-dressed-for-men-the-stores-wouldn-t-sell-much-just-an/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) [Explore all 366 Groucho Marx quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) ## More Ears quotes > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Story is about pulling the reader in and a plot is a more externalized mechanism of revelation. A plot is more antic, more performative,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/story-is-about-pulling-the-reader-in-and-a-plot-is-a-more/) [Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/) > [The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-nineteenth-century-lynching-mob-cuts-off-ears-toes-and-fingers/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Somehow the river is louder when you cover your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-williams/somehow-the-river-is-louder-when-you-cover-your-ears/) [Niall Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-williams/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-was-like-how-she-is-now-when/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Words are substance strange. Speak one and the air ripples into another's ears. Write one and the eye laps it up. But the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-beachy-quick/words-are-substance-strange-speak-one-and-the-air-ripples-into/) [Dan Beachy-Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-beachy-quick/) > [I had never done anything with blue screen before, or prosthetics, or anything like that. Lord of the Rings was like stepping into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-had-never-done-anything-with-blue-screen-before-or-prosthetics-or/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The more that you act on your intuition fearlessly, the more your intuition will serve you. Intuition is the ear of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/the-more-that-you-act-on-your-intuition-fearlessly-the-more-your/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [it'll be this kind of deep blue”she said. “The kind of color that somehow sucks your eyes and your ears and all your words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/it-ll-be-this-kind-of-deep-blue-she-said-the-kind-of-color-that/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [Flat muscled and honey coloured. Sea secrets in his eyes. A silver raindrop in his ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/flat-muscled-and-honey-coloured-sea-secrets-in-his-eyes-a-silver/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) [Browse all 2,987 Ears quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I write by ear. 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