--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I write from my knowledge not my lack…" description: "\"I write from my knowledge not my lack, from my strength not my weakness. I am not interested if anyone knows whether or not I am familiar with big word..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/lucille-clifton-12072_big-idea_i-write-from-my-knowledge-not-my-lack-fr_1869730.jpg" --- # I write from my knowledge not my lack, from my strength… ![“I write from my knowledge not my lack, from my strength not my weakness. I am not interested if anyone knows whether or not I am familiar with big words, I am interested in trying to render big ideas in a simple way. I am interested in being understood not admired.” quote by Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/lucille-clifton-12072_big-idea_i-write-from-my-knowledge-not-my-lack-fr_1869730.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/lucille-clifton-12072_big-idea_i-write-from-my-knowledge-not-my-lack-fr_1869730.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/lucille-clifton-12072_big-idea_i-write-from-my-knowledge-not-my-lack-fr_1869730.jpg) > “I write from my knowledge not my lack, from my strength not my weakness. I am not interested if anyone knows whether or not I am familiar with big words, I am interested in trying to render big ideas in a simple way. I am interested in being understood not admired.” [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing from confidence and clarity makes ideas accessible and valued over pretension. **In simple terms:** Write from strength, not insecurity, to be understood. Key Takeaway Prioritize clarity over showing off. Themes authenticity communication humility education Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - teaching - public speaking - blogging - creative writing Key Concepts self‑efficacy clarity of expression Questions to Reflect On - What topics do you simplify for others? - How does humility improve your message? A Different Perspective Fear of judgment may limit openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-idea/) [Big ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-ideas/) [Big words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-words/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Familiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiar/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Interested Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-knows-2571374/) [Interested Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-understood-2571371/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Not interested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-interested/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Simple ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-ways/) [Social justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justice/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weakness Interested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness-interested-2571372/) [Words Interested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-interested-1534099/) [Write Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-knowledge-2571373/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not interested in the words or the meaning of the words. I'm interested in disappearing in it completely, to not be aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgard/i-m-not-interested-in-the-words-or-the-meaning-of-the-words-i-m/) [Karl Ove Knausgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/) > [I think anyone can write about anything that they have knowledge of and exposure to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/i-think-anyone-can-write-about-anything-that-they-have-knowledge-of/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [Read a lot. But read as a writer, to see how other writers are doing it. And make your knowledge of literature in English…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodora-goss/read-a-lot-but-read-as-a-writer-to-see-how-other-writers-are-doing-it/) [Theodora Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodora-goss/) > [Here's a simple way you can engage your intuition. When you are about to say something and you're not sure if you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/here-s-a-simple-way-you-can-engage-your-intuition-when-you-are-about/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [The wise man then followed a simple way of life-which is hardly surprising when you consider how even in this modern age he seeks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-wise-man-then-followed-a-simple-way-of-life-which-is-hardly/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The most simple way to stay encouraged is to feed your heart on what He is doing, not on what He hasn't done. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/the-most-simple-way-to-stay-encouraged-is-to-feed-your-heart-on-what/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [An artist is a man who says a difficult thing in a simple way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/an-artist-is-a-man-who-says-a-difficult-thing-in-a-simple-way/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Intellectuals say simple things in difficult ways. Artists say difficult things in simple ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/intellectuals-say-simple-things-in-difficult-ways-artists-say/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [When God moves, everybody will be blessed. If something is of the flesh, everybody will have a sick feeling. And if something is of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-hagin/when-god-moves-everybody-will-be-blessed-if-something-is-of-the-flesh/) [Kenneth E. Hagin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-hagin/) > [If you're wondering when you should give to or serve someone else, I believe in doing it spontaneously, perhaps in a shared moment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-bassett/if-you-re-wondering-when-you-should-give-to-or-serve-someone-else-i/) [Lucinda Bassett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-bassett/) > [I love the old way best, the simple way of poison, where we too are strong as men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/i-love-the-old-way-best-the-simple-way-of-poison-where-we-too-are/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [ I'm one simple way I think I've succeeded was capturing Elsa \[Dorfman\]. There's something about Elsa, her personality, and her work that I believe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/i-m-one-simple-way-i-think-i-ve-succeeded-was-capturing-elsa-dorfman/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [A large brain, like large government, may not be able to do simple things in a simple way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-hebb/a-large-brain-like-large-government-may-not-be-able-to-do-simple/) [Donald O. Hebb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-hebb/) > [Many people do not know that they can strengthen or diminish the life around them. The way we live day to day simply may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/many-people-do-not-know-that-they-can-strengthen-or-diminish-the-life/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [Putting on a new pair of glasses or sunglasses is a simple way to completely transform your look - just like a new hairstyle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-goreski/putting-on-a-new-pair-of-glasses-or-sunglasses-is-a-simple-way-to/) [Brad Goreski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-goreski/) ## More by Lucille Clifton > [wishes for sons by Lucille Clifton i wish them cramps. i wish them a strange town and the last tampon. I wish them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/wishes-for-sons-by-lucille-clifton-i-wish-them-cramps-i-wish-them-a/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [“these hips are big hips. they need space to move around in. they don't fit into little petty places.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/these-hips-are-big-hips-they-need-space-to-move-around-in-they-don-t/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [“a tongue blistered with smiling”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/a-tongue-blistered-with-smiling/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [Intellect doesn't translate across cultures; intuition does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/intellect-doesn-t-translate-across-cultures-intuition-does/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [Poetry is a matter of life, not just a matter of language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/poetry-is-a-matter-of-life-not-just-a-matter-of-language/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [I keep hearing tree talk water words and i keep knowing what they mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/i-keep-hearing-tree-talk-water-words-and-i-keep-knowing-what-they-mean/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [You might as well answer the door, my child, the truth is furiously knocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/you-might-as-well-answer-the-door-my-child-the-truth-is-furiously/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [“walked erect out of my sleep”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/walked-erect-out-of-my-sleep/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [In the bigger scheme of things the universe is not asking us to do something, the universe is asking us to be something. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/in-the-bigger-scheme-of-things-the-universe-is-not-asking-us-to-do/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [If i should enter the house and speak with my own voice, at last, about its awful furnitutre, pulling apart the covering over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/if-i-should-enter-the-house-and-speak-with-my-own-voice-at-last-about/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [telling the truth about children's lives is radical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/telling-the-truth-about-children-s-lives-is-radical/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [To be a good poet, you must care more about the writing, than the writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/to-be-a-good-poet-you-must-care-more-about-the-writing-than-the-writer/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [“i am rejuvenated bones rising from the dear floor where they found you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/i-am-rejuvenated-bones-rising-from-the-dear-floor-where-they-found-you/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [“they will empty your eyes of everything you love”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/they-will-empty-your-eyes-of-everything-you-love/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [All people, even one's own children, come with baggage. When they're little, you have to help them carry it. But when they grow up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/all-people-even-one-s-own-children-come-with-baggage-when-they-re/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) [Explore all 56 Lucille Clifton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) ## More Big idea quotes > [I am not going to make promises I can't keep. I am not going to talk about big ideas like single-payer and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-not-going-to-make-promises-i-can-t-keep-i-am-not-going-to-talk/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I really like Kickstarter because you don't have to be a Medici to fund the arts and sciences or to get behind a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gansky/i-really-like-kickstarter-because-you-don-t-have-to-be-a-medici-to/) [Lisa Gansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gansky/) > [Believe in something larger than yourself... get involved in the big ideas of your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/believe-in-something-larger-than-yourself-get-involved-in-the-big/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [“You want the story of my life? Big ideas, small results.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-stanwyck/you-want-the-story-of-my-life-big-ideas-small-results/) [Barbara Stanwyck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-stanwyck/) > [It takes a big idea to attract the attention of consumers and get them to buy your product. Unless your advertising contains a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/it-takes-a-big-idea-to-attract-the-attention-of-consumers-and-get/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [The only big ideas I've ever had came from daydreaming, but modern life keeps people from daydreaming. Every moment of the day your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-maccready/the-only-big-ideas-i-ve-ever-had-came-from-daydreaming-but-modern/) [Paul MacCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-maccready/) > [You will never win fame and fortune unless you invent big ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/you-will-never-win-fame-and-fortune-unless-you-invent-big-ideas/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-laugh-at-me-because-i-use-big-words-but-if-you-have-big-ideas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All the big ideas for getting us onto a lower carbon trajectory involve a lot of people doing a lot of work, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/all-the-big-ideas-for-getting-us-onto-a-lower-carbon-trajectory/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [I've never been shy about big ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-x-suarez/i-ve-never-been-shy-about-big-ideas/) [Francis X. Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-x-suarez/) > [“The path to success involves two parts. Part One is all about imagination and dreaming up a big idea. Part Two is all about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-clark/the-path-to-success-involves-two-parts-part-one-is-all-about/) [Clay Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-clark/) > [You never know when some small thing will lead to a big idea. Travel is very inspirational - but it's in the ordinary that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/you-never-know-when-some-small-thing-will-lead-to-a-big-idea-travel/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [The job of the leader is to get the big ideas right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/the-job-of-the-leader-is-to-get-the-big-ideas-right/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [“There is a current perception is that science has overtaken Philosophy and in effect rendered Philosophy irrelevant. Science, when sufficiently abstracted, approaches Philosophy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-golway/there-is-a-current-perception-is-that-science-has-overtaken/) [Tom Golway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-golway/) > [I always tell people that revelling in big ideas for me is kind of like an antidote to existential angst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/i-always-tell-people-that-revelling-in-big-ideas-for-me-is-kind-of/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) [Browse all 254 Big idea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-idea/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I write from my knowledge not my lack, from my strength not my weakness. I am not interested if anyone knows whether or not I am familiar with big words, I am interested in trying to render big ideas in a simple way. 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