--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't like to think that I am a slave…" description: "\"I don't like to think that I am a slave to technique, or so inept that I have to restrict myself to one method.\" — Walter J. Phillips" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/walter-j-phillips-8536_method_i-don-t-like-to-think-that-i-am-a-slave_729532.jpg" --- # I don't like to think that I am a slave to technique, or… ![“I don't like to think that I am a slave to technique, or so inept that I have to restrict myself to one method.” quote by Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/walter-j-phillips-8536_method_i-don-t-like-to-think-that-i-am-a-slave_729532.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/walter-j-phillips-8536_method_i-don-t-like-to-think-that-i-am-a-slave_729532.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/282/walter-j-phillips-8536_method_i-don-t-like-to-think-that-i-am-a-slave_729532.jpg) > “I don't like to think that I am a slave to technique, or so inept that I have to restrict myself to one method.” [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author warns against becoming overly dependent on a single technique, urging flexibility and openness to multiple methods. **In simple terms:** Don't let one method limit you. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse tools and approaches. Themes creativity flexibility skill development Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - writing - teaching - problem solving - design - music composition Key Concepts methodology adaptability mastery Questions to Reflect On - What alternative methods could you explore? - How does flexibility improve your work? A Different Perspective Relying on one technique can stifle innovation and reduce adaptability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Methodology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/methodology/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The most admirable method is that by which each wash of colour, large or small, is never disturbed. It admits of practically no overpainting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/the-most-admirable-method-is-that-by-which-each-wash-of-colour-large/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [As for techniques and processes, as seen in the works themselves, neither public nor artists will find anything about them here. Those things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/as-for-techniques-and-processes-as-seen-in-the-works-themselves/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [You don't become a good teacher by applying techniques; you don't become a good teacher by using the latest hot methodologies that are being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/you-don-t-become-a-good-teacher-by-applying-techniques-you-don-t/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Avoid methodology. If what you're doing is about technique, that's not art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-walkingstick/avoid-methodology-if-what-you-re-doing-is-about-technique-that-s-not/) [Kay WalkingStick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-walkingstick/) > [I think the greatest weakness in the church today is that almost no one believes that God invests His power in the Bible. Everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-the-greatest-weakness-in-the-church-today-is-that-almost-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For an intelligent estimate of your technique go to another artist working in the same medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/for-an-intelligent-estimate-of-your-technique-go-to-another-artist/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [Skepticism is my nature, freethought is my methodology, agnosticism is my conclusion after 25 years of being in the ministry, and atheism is my opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-dewitt/skepticism-is-my-nature-freethought-is-my-methodology-agnosticism-is/) Jerry DeWitt > [One might get the impression that I recommend a new methodology which replaces induction by counterinduction and uses a multiplicity of theories, metaphysical views,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/one-might-get-the-impression-that-i-recommend-a-new-methodology-which/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [There is no best way to make art, but there are a lot of better ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/there-is-no-best-way-to-make-art-but-there-are-a-lot-of-better-ways/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [“Yet the paradox is that scientific methodology is the product of human hands and thus cannot reach some permanent truth. We build scientific theories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kalanithi/yet-the-paradox-is-that-scientific-methodology-is-the-product-of/) [Paul Kalanithi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kalanithi/) > [First, we want to establish the idea that a computer language is not just a way of getting a computer to perform operations but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-abelson/first-we-want-to-establish-the-idea-that-a-computer-language-is-not/) [Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-abelson/) > [Yoga is the methodology with which to unveil the miracle that exists right in front of our faces and inside ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-yee/yoga-is-the-methodology-with-which-to-unveil-the-miracle-that-exists/) [Rodney Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-yee/) > [Ben was more improvisational, and relied less on methodology, and basically is a guitarist who switched to bass, whereas Jeff has a more traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cameron/ben-was-more-improvisational-and-relied-less-on-methodology-and/) [Matt Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cameron/) > [Take your brush here and there like a bee in an alpine meadow. In other words, don't laboriously work on or try to finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/take-your-brush-here-and-there-like-a-bee-in-an-alpine-meadow-in/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [Subjectivism is not an absolute principle; it is a necessary but not sufficient condition for sound methodology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/subjectivism-is-not-an-absolute-principle-it-is-a-necessary-but-not/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) ## More by Walter J. Phillips > [Any subject is suitable provided it is of sufficient interest, but the design must be very carefully considered, and plenty of time and thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/any-subject-is-suitable-provided-it-is-of-sufficient-interest-but-the/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [The rewards of art are not always commensurate with its quality. It affords a precarious living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/the-rewards-of-art-are-not-always-commensurate-with-its-quality-it/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [There must be a judicious arrangement of all the parts. Considered conversely, the artist's task is to fill his panel with a design that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/there-must-be-a-judicious-arrangement-of-all-the-parts-considered/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [It is the sense of unfamiliar envelopment that is impressive, whether in the living grays of hoarfrost, the crimson of the heavens at sunset,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/it-is-the-sense-of-unfamiliar-envelopment-that-is-impressive-whether/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [A horizontal or vertical line lacks energy, compared with one that deviates from either. The difference between these graphic expressions is the difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/a-horizontal-or-vertical-line-lacks-energy-compared-with-one-that/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [Many cherish the idea that a photograph is an exact presentment of nature, and accept without question the paradox that a photograph cannot lie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/many-cherish-the-idea-that-a-photograph-is-an-exact-presentment-of/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [Take away a painter's vanity, said a famous landscape painter, and he will never touch a pencil again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/take-away-a-painter-s-vanity-said-a-famous-landscape-painter-and-he/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [Submit your work to interested societies for exhibition where the critics in the light of their physical well-being and according to the extent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/submit-your-work-to-interested-societies-for-exhibition-where-the/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [The portrait painter... If he insults his sitters his occupation is gone. Whether he paints the should instead of the features, or the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/the-portrait-painter-if-he-insults-his-sitters-his-occupation-is-gone/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [Tradition is a prop for social security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/tradition-is-a-prop-for-social-security/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [While it is emotion that gives an impulse to the landscape painter, it is his style that inspires the critic's praise, and his subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/while-it-is-emotion-that-gives-an-impulse-to-the-landscape-painter-it/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [Water is the most expressive element in nature. It responds to every mood from tranquility to turbulence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/water-is-the-most-expressive-element-in-nature-it-responds-to-every/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [Etching will suggest subtle variations of tone, the most delicate shadings, all with black lines, which, as far as lines go, are unsurpassed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/etching-will-suggest-subtle-variations-of-tone-the-most-delicate/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [Many of the old masters of watercolour painted from notes, with enthusiasm either unabated or renewed. It is hard to assume the same degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/many-of-the-old-masters-of-watercolour-painted-from-notes-with/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [For an intelligent estimate of your technique go to another artist working in the same medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/for-an-intelligent-estimate-of-your-technique-go-to-another-artist/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) [Explore all 80 Walter J. Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) ## More Method quotes > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [The method of magnitude estimation provided a direct measure of sensation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-smith-stevens/the-method-of-magnitude-estimation-provided-a-direct-measure-of/) Stanley Smith Stevens > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I don't have any particular method, my approach is very simple. I try to understand the emotional graph of the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/i-don-t-have-any-particular-method-my-approach-is-very-simple-i-try/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [Our attitude towards evil must be freed from hatred, and has itself need to be enlightened in character...Satan rejoices when he succeeds in inspiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/our-attitude-towards-evil-must-be-freed-from-hatred-and-has-itself/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [I went through about six or seven painting methods just to see what I didn't want to do. And then I got off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-denes/i-went-through-about-six-or-seven-painting-methods-just-to-see-what-i/) [Agnes Denes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-denes/) > [Intellectual methods-study and reason-are essential to our progress toward eternal life, but they are not sufficient. They can prepare the way. They can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/intellectual-methods-study-and-reason-are-essential-to-our-progress/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Research is an organized method of trying to find out what you are going to do after you cannot do what you are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/research-is-an-organized-method-of-trying-to-find-out-what-you-are/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [I'm not a method actor. I try to stay separate but to imagine what they'd feel, to put myself in their shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tuppence-middleton/i-m-not-a-method-actor-i-try-to-stay-separate-but-to-imagine-what/) [Tuppence Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tuppence-middleton/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Reason is universal because no attempted challenge to its results can avoid appealing to reason in the end-by claiming, for example, that what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/reason-is-universal-because-no-attempted-challenge-to-its-results-can/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [Stalin's methods did not help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anastas-mikoyan/stalin-s-methods-did-not-help/) [Anastas Mikoyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anastas-mikoyan/) > [Yoga is the method to bring or uncover the union that exists. That all things are relative and are in relationship and that nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-yee/yoga-is-the-method-to-bring-or-uncover-the-union-that-exists-that-all/) [Rodney Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-yee/) Browse all 2,826 Method quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't like to think that I am a slave to technique, or so inept that I have to restrict myself to one method.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter J. 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