--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A pen is certainly an excellent…" description: "\"A pen is certainly an excellent instrument to fix a man's attention and to inflame his ambition.\" — John Adams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/john-adams-529_ambition_a-pen-is-certainly-an-excellent-instrume_2849822.jpg" --- # A pen is certainly an excellent instrument to fix a man's… ![“A pen is certainly an excellent instrument to fix a man's attention and to inflame his ambition.” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/john-adams-529_ambition_a-pen-is-certainly-an-excellent-instrume_2849822.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/john-adams-529_ambition_a-pen-is-certainly-an-excellent-instrume_2849822.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/john-adams-529_ambition_a-pen-is-certainly-an-excellent-instrume_2849822.jpg) > “A pen is certainly an excellent instrument to fix a man's attention and to inflame his ambition.” [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing sharpens focus and fuels ambition, acting as a tool for personal drive. **In simple terms:** Writing focuses and motivates. Key Takeaway Write to clarify goals. Themes writing focus ambition productivity Mood determined energetic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - academic work - creative projects - career planning Key Concepts self‑discipline goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What writing habits sharpen your focus? - How does writing influence your drive? A Different Perspective Writing alone may not guarantee ambition without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“Why does it take a man's attention to make me see anything good about myself?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-abel/why-does-it-take-a-man-s-attention-to-make-me-see-anything-good-about/) [E.M. Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-abel/) > [“Give a man your attention Lose his Ignore a man Gain his attention”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kc-rhoads/give-a-man-your-attention-lose-his-ignore-a-man-gain-his-attention/) [KC Rhoads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kc-rhoads/) > [You can get a man's attention if you got a pair of boobs and a butt. I hate to simplify them down so much,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/you-can-get-a-man-s-attention-if-you-got-a-pair-of-boobs-and-a-butt-i/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [What attracts a man's attention does not guarantee his respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/what-attracts-a-man-s-attention-does-not-guarantee-his-respect/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“Okay, go ahead and fill these out,” Jeff said, standing as he glanced over the growing crowd in the club. “When you’re done, we’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/okay-go-ahead-and-fill-these-out-jeff-said-standing-as-he-glanced/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“God wants all man's attention, thoughts and focus to be on Him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/god-wants-all-man-s-attention-thoughts-and-focus-to-be-on-him/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [To get a man's attention, just stand in front of the TV and don't move. He'll talk to you. I promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-allen/to-get-a-man-s-attention-just-stand-in-front-of-the-tv-and-don-t-move/) [Tim Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-allen/) > [“Between the onion and the parsley, therefore, I shall give the summation of my case for paying attention. Man's real work is to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-farrar-capon/between-the-onion-and-the-parsley-therefore-i-shall-give-the/) [Robert Farrar Capon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-farrar-capon/) > [Attention is the key; for where man's attention goes, there goes his energy, and he himself can only follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-of-st-germain/attention-is-the-key-for-where-man-s-attention-goes-there-goes-his/) Count of St. Germain > [In 2012, the far-right Golden Dawn won 21 seats in Greece's parliamentary election, the right-wing Jobbik gained ground in my native Hungary, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/in-2012-the-far-right-golden-dawn-won-21-seats-in-greece-s/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize man than any other nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-will-insist-that-the-hebrews-have-done-more-to-civilize-man-than/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The people have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge - I mean of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-people-have-a-right-an-indisputable-unalienable-indefeasible/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-recognize-no-sovereign-but-god-and-no-king-but-jesus/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The destiny of America is to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to all men everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-destiny-of-america-is-to-carry-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-to-all/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-consider-a-decent-respect-for-christianity-among-the-best/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) ## More by John Adams > [Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Daughter! Get you an honest Man for a Husband, and keep him honest. No matter whether he is rich, provided he be independent. Regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/daughter-get-you-an-honest-man-for-a-husband-and-keep-him-honest-no/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-general-principles-on-which-the-fathers-achieved-independence/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [We may... affirm that the balance of power in a society accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/we-may-affirm-that-the-balance-of-power-in-a-society-accompanies-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-longer-i-live-the-more-i-read-the-more-patiently-i-think-and-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/but-what-do-we-mean-by-the-american-revolution-do-we-mean-the/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth: those with the commitment, and those who require the commitment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-are-only-two-creatures-of-value-on-the-face-of-the-earth-those/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [ I will insist the Hebrews have \[contributed\] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-will-insist-the-hebrews-have-contributed-more-to-civilize-men-than/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/government-is-instituted-for-the-common-good-for-the-protection/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Make Things rather than Persons the subjects of conversations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/make-things-rather-than-persons-the-subjects-of-conversations/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/during-the-whole-time-i-sat-with-him-in-congress-i-never-heard-him/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/religion-and-virtue-are-the-only-foundations-not-of-republicanism-and/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The universal object and idol of men of letters is reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-universal-object-and-idol-of-men-of-letters-is-reputation/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-consider-a-decent-respect-for-christianity-among-the-best/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) [Explore all 495 John Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A pen is certainly an excellent instrument to fix a man's attention and to inflame his ambition.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/a-pen-is-certainly-an-excellent-instrument-to-fix-a-man-s-attention/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/a-pen-is-certainly-an-excellent-instrument-to-fix-a-man-s-attention/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/john-adams-529_ambition_a-pen-is-certainly-an-excellent-instrume_2849822.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/john-adams-529_ambition_a-pen-is-certainly-an-excellent-instrume_2849822.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/john-adams-529_ambition_a-pen-is-certainly-an-excellent-instrume_2849822.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A pen is certainly an excellent instrument to fix a man's attention and to inflame his ambition.” — John Adams", "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": "John Adams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A pen is certainly an excellent...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/a-pen-is-certainly-an-excellent-instrument-to-fix-a-man-s-attention/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/a-pen-is-certainly-an-excellent-instrument-to-fix-a-man-s-attention/#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 } } ] } ```