--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can write a little and can draw a…" description: "\"You can write a little and can draw a little, but there's necessarily a limitation on both in a comic strip, since it appears in such a tiny space.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/stephan-pastis-9455_comic_you-can-write-a-little-and-can-draw-a-li_1425404.png" --- # You can write a little and can draw a little, but there's… ![“You can write a little and can draw a little, but there's necessarily a limitation on both in a comic strip, since it appears in such a tiny space.” quote by Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/stephan-pastis-9455_comic_you-can-write-a-little-and-can-draw-a-li_1425404.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/stephan-pastis-9455_comic_you-can-write-a-little-and-can-draw-a-li_1425404.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/stephan-pastis-9455_comic_you-can-write-a-little-and-can-draw-a-li_1425404.png) > “You can write a little and can draw a little, but there's necessarily a limitation on both in a comic strip, since it appears in such a tiny space.” [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comic creators must balance text and art within limited space, often sacrificing detail for brevity. **In simple terms:** Space limits detail, so keep it simple. Key Takeaway Prioritize essential story elements. Themes creativity constraints visual storytelling Mood playful reflective Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - daily comic panels - advertising graphics - storyboarding Key Concepts comic art narrative economy visual humor Questions to Reflect On - What essential detail can you omit without losing impact? - How does space shape your story? A Different Perspective Too much simplification can dilute meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Comic strip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-strip/) [Comic strips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-strips/) [Draw Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draw-little-3306690/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Limitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limitation/) [Limitation Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limitation-comic-5060156/) [Little Draw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-draw-4519591/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Tiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tiny/) [Write Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-little-392118/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [A stand-up comedian faces the audiences and gets their immediate feedback. I hide behind the comic strip, and unless people write to me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/a-stand-up-comedian-faces-the-audiences-and-gets-their-immediate/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [When you are little, you will draw pictures for no reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/when-you-are-little-you-will-draw-pictures-for-no-reason/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [I had been drawing my weekly comic strip, 'Life in Hell,' for about five years when I got a call from Jim Brooks, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/i-had-been-drawing-my-weekly-comic-strip-life-in-hell-for-about-five/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse... by Floyd Gottfredson will be warmly received by comics aficionados but should also intrigue Disney animation buffs who aren’t necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-maltin/walt-disney-s-mickey-mouse-by-floyd-gottfredson-will-be-warmly/) [Leonard Maltin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-maltin/) > [To live in society today is like living in one enormous comic-strip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/to-live-in-society-today-is-like-living-in-one-enormous-comic-strip/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [I've always just loved drawing and loved cartoons. 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To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-katchor/in-america-there-s-a-very-long-tradition-of-a-comic-strip-that-comes/) [Ben Katchor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-katchor/) > [In a comic strip, you can suggest motion and time, but it's very crude compared to what an animator can do. I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/in-a-comic-strip-you-can-suggest-motion-and-time-but-it-s-very-crude/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [In the right hands, a comic strip attains a beauty and elegance that, really, I would put against any other art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/in-the-right-hands-a-comic-strip-attains-a-beauty-and-elegance-that/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) ## More by Stephan Pastis > [For me, going to Minneapolis is like going to Mecca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/for-me-going-to-minneapolis-is-like-going-to-mecca/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I have days where the only words I say are to the person making my sandwich at the grocery store.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-have-days-where-the-only-words-i-say-are-to-the-person-making-my/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [“Humility is what you strive for when you've failed at everything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/humility-is-what-you-strive-for-when-you-ve-failed-at-everything-else/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [A comic strip has a rhythm and a pattern, and you got to get in and out quick. 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He has one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/thomas-my-15-year-old-is-effectively-my-editor-i-ve-always-trusted/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I think it might surprise the average person how angry people can get over the comics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-think-it-might-surprise-the-average-person-how-angry-people-can-get/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [You can't just count on becoming a syndicated cartoonist. I actually tried to calculate the odds once, and the best I could come up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/you-can-t-just-count-on-becoming-a-syndicated-cartoonist-i-actually/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [A stand-up comedian faces the audiences and gets their immediate feedback. 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It's sort of like getting in a fight with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/it-seems-so-absurd-to-get-really-mad-with-a-cartoonist-over-a-comic/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I know I can always draw, but I actually love the writing the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-know-i-can-always-draw-but-i-actually-love-the-writing-the-most/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) [Explore all 72 Stephan Pastis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) ## More Comic quotes > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I always loved as a kid reading 'Spider-Man,' and the 'Fantastic Four' would show up... it was all about that larger universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-reed/i-always-loved-as-a-kid-reading-spider-man-and-the-fantastic-four/) [Peyton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-reed/) > [One of the key characteristics of the comic book medium is that it is not brought to life by just one voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lee/one-of-the-key-characteristics-of-the-comic-book-medium-is-that-it-is/) [Jim Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lee/) > [I identify with Superman. I am adopted, I am an only child, and I love the idea that he comes from another world, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-singer/i-identify-with-superman-i-am-adopted-i-am-an-only-child-and-i-love/) [Bryan Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-singer/) > [Before World War II, I was living a very cloistered existence, as most cartoonists do. The work I was pouring out did not come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-eisner/before-world-war-ii-i-was-living-a-very-cloistered-existence-as-most/) [Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-eisner/) > [If you look at Marvel Comics, there are very few Marvel characters I would like to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/if-you-look-at-marvel-comics-there-are-very-few-marvel-characters-i/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [The big problem for comic art is you don't want to overwork it. If a drawing is overworked it isn't funny. 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So therefore he can't be a superhero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/batman-doesn-t-have-any-superpowers-he-s-not-superhuman-he-s-not/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [When I was writing 'Black Panther,' on one level, I was angry because DC would never let me write 'Batman,' so I was doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-priest/when-i-was-writing-black-panther-on-one-level-i-was-angry-because-dc/) [Christopher Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-priest/) > [I was really into the first 'Spider-Man' films with Tobey Maguire, so it's pretty cool how it all came full circle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-batalon/i-was-really-into-the-first-spider-man-films-with-tobey-maguire-so-it/) [Jacob Batalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-batalon/) > [Most men are secretly still mad at their mothers for throwing away their comic books. 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