--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Words have to be crafted, not sprayed…" description: "\"Words have to be crafted, not sprayed. They need to be fitted together with infinite care.\" — Norman Cousins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a8/norman-cousins-2488_care_words-have-to-be-crafted-not-sprayed-the_1672928.png" --- # Words have to be crafted, not sprayed. They need to be… ![“Words have to be crafted, not sprayed. They need to be fitted together with infinite care.” quote by Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a8/norman-cousins-2488_care_words-have-to-be-crafted-not-sprayed-the_1672928.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a8/norman-cousins-2488_care_words-have-to-be-crafted-not-sprayed-the_1672928.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a8/norman-cousins-2488_care_words-have-to-be-crafted-not-sprayed-the_1672928.png) > “Words have to be crafted, not sprayed. They need to be fitted together with infinite care.” [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Crafting words requires deliberate, careful assembly rather than careless scattering. **In simple terms:** Words need careful construction. Key Takeaway Choose precision over volume. Themes writing precision communication Mood thoughtful intentional Type advice reflective When to use this quote - authoring essays - speechwriting - marketing copy - personal letters Key Concepts craftsmanship intentionality Questions to Reflect On - How does careful wording affect impact? - When is brevity more effective? A Different Perspective Over‑editing can stifle spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Crafted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafted/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Say what you will about the leadership of 'SNL,' they have crafted an institution as opposed to just running a show. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lamarr/say-what-you-will-about-the-leadership-of-snl-they-have-crafted-an/) [Phil LaMarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lamarr/) > [“Preemptively interwoven into this ingeniously crafted existence is everything that we need to be everything that we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/preemptively-interwoven-into-this-ingeniously-crafted-existence-is/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I'm not handled. I'm not crafted by slick, high-priced consultants. I'm a real person, a genuine person, a struggling person in Connecticut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-whitnum/i-m-not-handled-i-m-not-crafted-by-slick-high-priced-consultants-i-m/) [Lee Whitnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-whitnum/) > [“You have been crafted with utmost care and creativity by your Creator. There is none other like you in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-ruprell/you-have-been-crafted-with-utmost-care-and-creativity-by-your-creator/) [Pooja Ruprell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-ruprell/) > [With portable cameras and affordable data and non-linear digital editing, I think this is a golden age of documentary filmmaking. These new technologies mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-walker/with-portable-cameras-and-affordable-data-and-non-linear-digital/) [Lucy Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-walker/) > [Frankly, as much as I love to improvise, it hasn't been difficult to stick to the script on 'Mad Men.' The writing is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-sommer/frankly-as-much-as-i-love-to-improvise-it-hasn-t-been-difficult-to/) [Rich Sommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-sommer/) > [I feel like my imagination was crafted by Tolkien. He seemed to tap into that childhood intrigue of secret doors and hidden worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-feel-like-my-imagination-was-crafted-by-tolkien-he-seemed-to-tap/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [America's legacy has been crafted by generations of hard-working men and women who moved to the United States from all over the globe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/america-s-legacy-has-been-crafted-by-generations-of-hard-working-men/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [I still love a well-crafted joke. Twitter's been great for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-kinane/i-still-love-a-well-crafted-joke-twitter-s-been-great-for-that/) [Kyle Kinane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-kinane/) > [I feel like there's too many areas in my game that I've sharpened and crafted and brought to a really high level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-plant/i-feel-like-there-s-too-many-areas-in-my-game-that-i-ve-sharpened-and/) [Caleb Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-plant/) > [I've crafted a really weird career for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-ve-crafted-a-really-weird-career-for-myself/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [I'm inspired every time I see a role I'd like to play, an actor turn in a well crafted performance, a story I'd like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-keyah-crystal-keymah/i-m-inspired-every-time-i-see-a-role-i-d-like-to-play-an-actor-turn/) [T'Keyah Crystal Keymah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-keyah-crystal-keymah/) > [You hoop with a certain expression. That's your art. You've crafted it, so it is your art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/you-hoop-with-a-certain-expression-that-s-your-art-you-ve-crafted-it/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [I am very much interested in the so-called useless object. I mean, it takes perfect craftsmanship, beautiful material carefully measured and crafted, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-am-very-much-interested-in-the-so-called-useless-object-i-mean-it/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Television is much better crafted today then in the 70s. The content is less positive but I'm one of those that feel our entertainment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-knight/television-is-much-better-crafted-today-then-in-the-70s-the-content/) [Christopher Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-knight/) ## More by Norman Cousins > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Unobstructed access to facts can produce unlimited good only if it is matched by the desire and ability to find out what they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/unobstructed-access-to-facts-can-produce-unlimited-good-only-if-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What was significant about the laughter . . . was not just the fact that it provides internal exercise for a person . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-was-significant-about-the-laughter-was-not-just-the-fact-that-it/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [You are younger today than you will ever be again. Make use of it for the sake of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/you-are-younger-today-than-you-will-ever-be-again-make-use-of-it-for/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [On the quality of life: #1. Realize that each human being has a built-in capacity for recuperation and repair. #2. Recognize that the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/on-the-quality-of-life-1-realize-that-each-human-being-has-a-built-in/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What a man really says when he says that someone else can be persuaded by force, is that he himself is incapable of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-a-man-really-says-when-he-says-that-someone-else-can-be/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The physician knows that his little black bag can carry him only so far and that the body's own healing system is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-physician-knows-that-his-little-black-bag-can-carry-him-only-so/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [We are wide-eyed in contemplating the possibility that life may exist elsewhere in the universe, but we wear blinders when contemplating the possibilities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/we-are-wide-eyed-in-contemplating-the-possibility-that-life-may-exist/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The essence of man is imperfection. Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success. If we learn to embrace that new definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-essence-of-man-is-imperfection-failure-is-simply-a-price-we-pay/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [My reason nourishes my faith and my faith my reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/my-reason-nourishes-my-faith-and-my-faith-my-reason/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The growth of the human mind is still high adventure, in many ways the highest adventure on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-growth-of-the-human-mind-is-still-high-adventure-in-many-ways-the/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Death is not the enemy; living in constant fear of it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/death-is-not-the-enemy-living-in-constant-fear-of-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [All this sensory input, which begins in the brain, has its effect throughout the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/all-this-sensory-input-which-begins-in-the-brain-has-its-effect/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Humanity today is not safe in the presence of humanity. The old cannibalism has given way to anonymous action in which the killer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/humanity-today-is-not-safe-in-the-presence-of-humanity-the-old/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) [Explore all 162 Norman Cousins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## More Care quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/) [Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [What makes you care about nature, about the planet? Is it really that you're afraid of what's going to happen if you don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/what-makes-you-care-about-nature-about-the-planet-is-it-really-that/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [I don't care if you make a print on a bath mat, just as long as it is a good print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/i-don-t-care-if-you-make-a-print-on-a-bath-mat-just-as-long-as-it-is/) [Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/) > [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. 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