--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe every pencil has to be…" description: "\"I believe every pencil has to be sharpened every now and then to stay sharp, or you dull out. So my records, I chose to speak on what black people do, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/ice-cube-912_believe_i-believe-every-pencil-has-to-be-sharpen_2016072.jpg" --- # I believe every pencil has to be sharpened every now and… ![“I believe every pencil has to be sharpened every now and then to stay sharp, or you dull out. So my records, I chose to speak on what black people do, what white people do, what women do, what men do.” quote by Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/ice-cube-912_believe_i-believe-every-pencil-has-to-be-sharpen_2016072.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/ice-cube-912_believe_i-believe-every-pencil-has-to-be-sharpen_2016072.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01e/ice-cube-912_believe_i-believe-every-pencil-has-to-be-sharpen_2016072.jpg) > “I believe every pencil has to be sharpened every now and then to stay sharp, or you dull out. So my records, I chose to speak on what black people do, what white people do, what women do, what men do.” [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Uses a metaphor of sharpening pencils to stress the need for continual self‑reflection across identities. **In simple terms:** Regular self‑reflection keeps you sharp. Key Takeaway Practice self‑reflection. Themes identity self‑improvement social awareness Mood thoughtful inspirational Type motivational educational When to use this quote - Personal coaching - diversity training - community dialogues Key Concepts Metaphor of sharpening intersectionality Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑reflection shape personal growth? - What role does identity play in your actions? A Different Perspective Metaphors may not capture nuanced experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Pencil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-pencil-3626065/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Dull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dull/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Now and then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now-and-then/) [Pencil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pencil/) [Pencil Sharpened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pencil-sharpened-3626063/) [Pencils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pencils/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Sharpened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharpened-895738/) [Sharpened Stay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharpened-stay-3626064/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Stay Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-sharp-1823488/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/) ## Related quotes > [I've been trying too long with too dull of a knife But tonight I made sure that I sharpened it twice I never bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/i-ve-been-trying-too-long-with-too-dull-of-a-knife-but-tonight-i-made/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [“An over sharpened sword cannot last long. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/an-over-sharpened-sword-cannot-last-long/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [I refer to my hands, feet and body as the tools of the trade. The hands and feet must be sharpened and improved daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/i-refer-to-my-hands-feet-and-body-as-the-tools-of-the-trade-the-hands/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [“I wanted to surround myself with the kind of people who could help me turn my life around; people whom I could rub up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/i-wanted-to-surround-myself-with-the-kind-of-people-who-could-help-me/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/if-you-keep-feeling-a-point-that-has-been-sharpened-the-point-cannot/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“I’ve sharpened my perspective to see only opportunities in every situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/i-ve-sharpened-my-perspective-to-see-only-opportunities-in-every/) [Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/) > [“There is always a way for the one whose perception is sharpened enough to see every way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/there-is-always-a-way-for-the-one-whose-perception-is-sharpened/) [Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/) > [The appetite is sharpened by the first bites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-rizal/the-appetite-is-sharpened-by-the-first-bites/) [Jose Rizal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-rizal/) > [I've been trying too long with a too dull of a knife, but tonight I made sure that I sharpened it twice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hollywood-undead/i-ve-been-trying-too-long-with-a-too-dull-of-a-knife-but-tonight-i/) [Hollywood Undead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hollywood-undead/) > [I don't very much believe in the stick, but it's amazing what can be achieved with a sharpened carrot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-williamson/i-don-t-very-much-believe-in-the-stick-but-it-s-amazing-what-can-be/) [Gavin Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-williamson/) > [“Sharpened by hate. Strengthened by love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brown/sharpened-by-hate-strengthened-by-love/) [Pierce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brown/) > [“Whenever you feel a little stricken down in pain, think about this. The knife has to be sharpened by striking and rubbing it against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/whenever-you-feel-a-little-stricken-down-in-pain-think-about-this-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [What did you do to Amma?" "I was late to school." He studied my face. I studied his. "Number 2?" I nodded. "Sharp?" "Started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/what-did-you-do-to-amma-i-was-late-to-school-he-studied-my-face-i/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“It is one thing to train in the yard with a blunted sword in hand, and another to drive a foot of sharpened steel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/it-is-one-thing-to-train-in-the-yard-with-a-blunted-sword-in-hand-and/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [He sharpened his flaws and disappointments into daggers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/he-sharpened-his-flaws-and-disappointments-into-daggers/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) ## More by Ice Cube > [Today I didn't even have to even use my A.K ! I got to say it was a good day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/today-i-didn-t-even-have-to-even-use-my-a-k-i-got-to-say-it-was-a/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Just waking up in the morning gotta thank God, I don't know but today seems kinda odd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/just-waking-up-in-the-morning-gotta-thank-god-i-don-t-know-but-today/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Sometimes, when you want to laugh, reality steps in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/sometimes-when-you-want-to-laugh-reality-steps-in/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I wake up at 5:30, 6 in the morning, but don't head into the office right away. I like to hang out with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-wake-up-at-5-30-6-in-the-morning-but-don-t-head-into-the-office/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Cool people still have a hard time showing what they got in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/cool-people-still-have-a-hard-time-showing-what-they-got-in-hollywood/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I have great people, smart people that are around me and we love the challenge. I guess it's like climbing a mountain or building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-have-great-people-smart-people-that-are-around-me-and-we-love-the/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I think when somebody goes to the movies and they spend their money and they take the girl out, the family, they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-think-when-somebody-goes-to-the-movies-and-they-spend-their-money/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I think, to me, reality is better than being fake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-think-to-me-reality-is-better-than-being-fake/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I'm always the "less is more" guy when it comes to a scene. So I'ma be the one who will keep it grounded. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-m-always-the-less-is-more-guy-when-it-comes-to-a-scene-so-i-ma-be/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I still want to put together bigger and better programs to work with the community. I still think I could do better on that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-still-want-to-put-together-bigger-and-better-programs-to-work-with/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Everybody in the world has to compromise. I don't know one person that gets everything they want, so the politicians are going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/everybody-in-the-world-has-to-compromise-i-don-t-know-one-person-that/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [ You have to resist falling in love with the money they \[producers\] want to give you. You have to really resist that, and you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/you-have-to-resist-falling-in-love-with-the-money-they-producers-want/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Our household is built on love and respect. And we don't really let negative vibes stay too long. It's worked out. I got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/our-household-is-built-on-love-and-respect-and-we-don-t-really-let/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Go down to the corner store and beat the Jap up, clean all the crap up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/go-down-to-the-corner-store-and-beat-the-jap-up-clean-all-the-crap-up/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [ I think \[director\] Malcolm Lee is a real master at being able to make you laugh while bringing serious subject-matter, so the movie doesn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-think-director-malcolm-lee-is-a-real-master-at-being-able-to-make/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) [Explore all 331 Ice Cube quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [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/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe every pencil has to be sharpened every now and then to stay sharp, or you dull out. 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