--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have known writers who paid no damned…" description: "\"I have known writers who paid no damned attention whatever to the rules of grammar and rhetoric and somehow made the language behave for them.\" — Red S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/red-smith-20048_attention_i-have-known-writers-who-paid-no-damned_1161471.png" --- # I have known writers who paid no damned attention whatever… ![“I have known writers who paid no damned attention whatever to the rules of grammar and rhetoric and somehow made the language behave for them.” quote by Red Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/red-smith-20048_attention_i-have-known-writers-who-paid-no-damned_1161471.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/red-smith-20048_attention_i-have-known-writers-who-paid-no-damned_1161471.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/red-smith-20048_attention_i-have-known-writers-who-paid-no-damned_1161471.png) > “I have known writers who paid no damned attention whatever to the rules of grammar and rhetoric and somehow made the language behave for them.” [Red Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers can bypass formal rules and still achieve effective expression through intuition and skill. **In simple terms:** Rules can be ignored if language works. Key Takeaway Trust your instinct in writing. Themes creativity language intuition Mood reflective confident Type advice observational When to use this quote - writing workshops - self‑editing - creative writing - journalism Key Concepts grammar rhetoric expression Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely on intuition or strict rules? - How does breaking rules affect readability? A Different Perspective May lack clarity for readers unfamiliar with the style. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Grammar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grammar/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Rhetoric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhetoric/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If something's public then it seems like the important thing is the person in that public. And the notion of rhetoric. 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