--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Read the heart and not the letter for the…" description: "\"Read the heart and not the letter for the pen cannot draw near the good intent.\" — Michelangelo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/michelangelo-2976_draws_read-the-heart-and-not-the-letter-for-th_1035777.jpg" --- # Read the heart and not the letter for the pen cannot draw… ![“Read the heart and not the letter for the pen cannot draw near the good intent.” quote by Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/michelangelo-2976_draws_read-the-heart-and-not-the-letter-for-th_1035777.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/michelangelo-2976_draws_read-the-heart-and-not-the-letter-for-th_1035777.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/michelangelo-2976_draws_read-the-heart-and-not-the-letter-for-th_1035777.jpg) > “Read the heart and not the letter for the pen cannot draw near the good intent.” [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding a person's true intentions matters more than their formal words. **In simple terms:** Intent matters more than words. Key Takeaway Focus on actions, not just words. Themes empathy communication intent Mood thoughtful reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - conflict resolution - leadership - teamwork Key Concepts psychology human behavior Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify someone's true intentions? - What actions reveal sincerity? A Different Perspective Words can be misleading without genuine intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) ## Related quotes > [Inspiration comes from the heart. The letter ‘I’ is the heart of F”I”RST… (F Inspiration R S T).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-kamen/inspiration-comes-from-the-heart-the-letter-i-is-the-heart-of-f-i-rst/) [Dean Kamen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-kamen/) > [“Dear Philip, I don't imagine you will ever read this. If you do, it is bacause something dreadful has happened to me. I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/dear-philip-i-don-t-imagine-you-will-ever-read-this-if-you-do-it-is/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“I still remember, very vividly and clearly, what you last wrote to me. Each of those words pierced my heart. I still have that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-v-songer/i-still-remember-very-vividly-and-clearly-what-you-last-wrote-to-me/) [Austin V. Songer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-v-songer/) > [“Today, my love, I am too tired to write for you. You will find in your heart a letter, several pages, full of silence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bobin/today-my-love-i-am-too-tired-to-write-for-you-you-will-find-in-your/) [Christian Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bobin/) > [If a good face is a letter of recommendation, a good heart is a letter of credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/if-a-good-face-is-a-letter-of-recommendation-a-good-heart-is-a-letter/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [The words of my heart are the steps of my fingers on the keyboard to let your eyes read, and your heart feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yllom28/the-words-of-my-heart-are-the-steps-of-my-fingers-on-the-keyboard-to/) Yllom28 > [No one is truly literate who cannot read his own heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/no-one-is-truly-literate-who-cannot-read-his-own-heart/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Everyone who knows me knows there is nothing wrong with me - and there is nothing wrong with my heart either. Did I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-van-aanholt/everyone-who-knows-me-knows-there-is-nothing-wrong-with-me-and-there/) [Patrick van Aanholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-van-aanholt/) > [“...you can use words if you wish, but I'm warning you - I've learned how to read your heart ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/you-can-use-words-if-you-wish-but-i-m-warning-you-i-ve-learned-how-to/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [Never lend a book to someone who don't know how to read, never give your heart to someone that don't know how to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/never-lend-a-book-to-someone-who-don-t-know-how-to-read-never-give/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [ “The books talked about it \[the heart\] as if it were a sump pump stuck down in the muck and mire of somebody’s backyard.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-martin/the-books-talked-about-it-the-heart-as-if-it-were-a-sump-pump-stuck/) [Charles Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-martin/) > [Ill read my heart out till I find you and I in my love story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-johnson/ill-read-my-heart-out-till-i-find-you-and-i-in-my-love-story/) [Natalya Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-johnson/) > [O, I have read his Heart in his wicked eyes many a time. The very devil is in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/o-i-have-read-his-heart-in-his-wicked-eyes-many-a-time-the-very-devil/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) > [“Read to your heart's content. Though if you are a reader, the heart is never content.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-hubbard/read-to-your-heart-s-content-though-if-you-are-a-reader-the-heart-is/) [Jenny Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-hubbard/) > [If you could read my heart, you'd be in tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-could-read-my-heart-you-d-be-in-tears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Michelangelo > [The power of one fair face makes my love sublime, for it has weaned my heart from low desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/the-power-of-one-fair-face-makes-my-love-sublime-for-it-has-weaned-my/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [To know each other is the best way to understand each other. To understand each other is the only way to love each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/to-know-each-other-is-the-best-way-to-understand-each-other-to/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [The marble not yet carved can hold the form of every thought the greatest artist has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/the-marble-not-yet-carved-can-hold-the-form-of-every-thought-the/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [A great sculpture can roll down a hill without breaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/a-great-sculpture-can-roll-down-a-hill-without-breaking/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/the-sculpture-is-already-complete-within-the-marble-block-before-i/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [What one has most to work and struggle for in painting is to do the work with a great amount of labour and sweat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/what-one-has-most-to-work-and-struggle-for-in-painting-is-to-do-the/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [If the wine is not good, then throw it out!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/if-the-wine-is-not-good-then-throw-it-out/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [An artist does his most difficult work when he steps back from the blank canvas and thinks about what he is going to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/an-artist-does-his-most-difficult-work-when-he-steps-back-from-the/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [There is no greater harm than that of time wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/there-is-no-greater-harm-than-that-of-time-wasted/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [It is better decoration when, in painting, some monstrosity is introduced for variety and a relaxation of the senses and to attract the attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/it-is-better-decoration-when-in-painting-some-monstrosity-is/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [To touch is to give life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/to-touch-is-to-give-life/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [Sculpture is made by taking away, while painting is made by adding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/sculpture-is-made-by-taking-away-while-painting-is-made-by-adding/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [The more the marble wastes, The more the statue grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/the-more-the-marble-wastes-the-more-the-statue-grows/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [When they asked Michelangelo how he made his statue of David he is reported to have said, "It is easy. You just chip away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/when-they-asked-michelangelo-how-he-made-his-statue-of-david-he-is/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [I am a poor man and of little worth, who is laboring in that art that God has given me in order to extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/i-am-a-poor-man-and-of-little-worth-who-is-laboring-in-that-art-that/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) [Explore all 143 Michelangelo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) ## More Draws quotes > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [No one can come to me unless the Father draws him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/no-one-can-come-to-me-unless-the-father-draws-him/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [When I talked to him earlier, he said he had to work tonight,” Peter explained, “but that we should go ahead and draw for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/when-i-talked-to-him-earlier-he-said-he-had-to-work-tonight-peter/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I would warn against holsters with devices for quick-draw. Devices always fail when you need them most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-powell/i-would-warn-against-holsters-with-devices-for-quick-draw-devices/) [William Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-powell/) > [It is the common defect of modern art study. Too many students do not know why they draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/it-is-the-common-defect-of-modern-art-study-too-many-students-do-not/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [They say that art comes from the soul. The more drama in an artist's life, the more he can draw on for his art.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/they-say-that-art-comes-from-the-soul-the-more-drama-in-an-artist-s/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [If you were to draw Bugs, the easiest way is to learn how to draw a carrot and then hook a rabbit onto it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/if-you-were-to-draw-bugs-the-easiest-way-is-to-learn-how-to-draw-a/) [Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/) > [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [You are quite, quite wrong if you think that ... I find your happiness painful. What matters is that happiness - the golden day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/you-are-quite-quite-wrong-if-you-think-that-i-find-your-happiness/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [All labours draw hame at even, And can to others say, "Thanks to the gracious God of heaven, Whilk sent this summer day."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hume/all-labours-draw-hame-at-even-and-can-to-others-say-thanks-to-the/) Alexander Hume > [Your deeper sense isn’t a springboard; it’s a landing place. If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [What I would say to filmmakers, if I may be so bold or so arrogant, is to draw inspiration from other filmmakers, but go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/what-i-would-say-to-filmmakers-if-i-may-be-so-bold-or-so-arrogant-is/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) Browse all 3,197 Draws quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Read the heart and not the letter for the pen cannot draw near the good intent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michelangelo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/read-the-heart-and-not-the-letter-for-the-pen-cannot-draw-near-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Draws" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/read-the-heart-and-not-the-letter-for-the-pen-cannot-draw-near-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/michelangelo-2976_draws_read-the-heart-and-not-the-letter-for-th_1035777.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/michelangelo-2976_draws_read-the-heart-and-not-the-letter-for-th_1035777.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/michelangelo-2976_draws_read-the-heart-and-not-the-letter-for-th_1035777.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Read the heart and not the letter for the pen cannot draw near the good intent.” — Michelangelo", "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": "Michelangelo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Read the heart and not the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/read-the-heart-and-not-the-letter-for-the-pen-cannot-draw-near-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/read-the-heart-and-not-the-letter-for-the-pen-cannot-draw-near-the/#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 } } ] } ```