--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had learned a little about writing from…" description: "\"I had learned a little about writing from Soldier's Pay - how to approach language, words: not with seriousness so much as an essayist does, but with a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/william-faulkner-306_approach_i-had-learned-a-little-about-writing-fro_1992513.png" --- # I had learned a little about writing from Soldier's Pay… ![“I had learned a little about writing from Soldier's Pay - how to approach language, words: not with seriousness so much as an essayist does, but with a kind of alert respect, as you approach dynamite; even with joy, as you approach women: perhaps with the same secretly unscrupulous intentions.” quote by William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/william-faulkner-306_approach_i-had-learned-a-little-about-writing-fro_1992513.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/william-faulkner-306_approach_i-had-learned-a-little-about-writing-fro_1992513.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/william-faulkner-306_approach_i-had-learned-a-little-about-writing-fro_1992513.png) > “I had learned a little about writing from Soldier's Pay - how to approach language, words: not with seriousness so much as an essayist does, but with a kind of alert respect, as you approach dynamite; even with joy, as you approach women: perhaps with the same secretly unscrupulous intentions.” [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Approaching language with alert respect, balancing seriousness and joy, akin to handling dynamite or women, reveals a nuanced, slightly mischievous creative stance. **In simple terms:** Treat words with respect, playfulness, and caution. Key Takeaway Write with reverence and daring. Themes creativity language playfulness Mood reflective playful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - creative projects - editing - teaching literature Key Concepts literary criticism writing technique artistic intent Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain respect while being playful? - When does play become disrespect? A Different Perspective Balancing respect and mischief can risk offending or trivializing subjects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Seriousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seriousness/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“To keep something, you must take care of it. More, you must understand just what sort of care it requires. You must know the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/to-keep-something-you-must-take-care-of-it-more-you-must-understand/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [I'm left-brained, so I'm all about a mathematical approach to language. I've always been interested in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-m-left-brained-so-i-m-all-about-a-mathematical-approach-to-language/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [She's no flibberti-gibberti mamzell, but a whir-stir-get-lost-sir bundla dynamite!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/she-s-no-flibberti-gibberti-mamzell-but-a-whir-stir-get-lost-sir/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [As was the case for Nobel's own invention of dynamite, the uses that are made of increased knowledge can serve both beneficial and potentially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolaas-bloembergen/as-was-the-case-for-nobel-s-own-invention-of-dynamite-the-uses-that/) [Nicolaas Bloembergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolaas-bloembergen/) > [My family has always called me 'Lay Lay,' and my dad used to always call me 'Dynamite Termite' because I was really short and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-chabert/my-family-has-always-called-me-lay-lay-and-my-dad-used-to-always-call/) [Lacey Chabert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-chabert/) > [Our planning system was dynamite when we first put it in. The thinking was fresh; the form mattered little. It was idea oriented. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-welch/our-planning-system-was-dynamite-when-we-first-put-it-in-the-thinking/) [John Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-welch/) > [People are like sticks of dynamite. The power is on the inside, but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/people-are-like-sticks-of-dynamite-the-power-is-on-the-inside-but/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [Babies in silk hats playing with dynamite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-woollcott/babies-in-silk-hats-playing-with-dynamite/) [Alexander Woollcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-woollcott/) > [Commercialism is the blemish on the fair face of American life. Fighting against the terrible conditions of the explorer and pioneer, our forefathers had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-foote-macdougall/commercialism-is-the-blemish-on-the-fair-face-of-american-life/) [Alice Foote MacDougall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-foote-macdougall/) > [Because mothers make us, because they map our emotional terrain before we even know we are capable of having an emotional terrain, they know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-walker/because-mothers-make-us-because-they-map-our-emotional-terrain-before/) [Rebecca Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-walker/) > [If you are talking about terrorism, you need to sit down and understand what is making these people put dynamite around their waists and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakhdar-brahimi/if-you-are-talking-about-terrorism-you-need-to-sit-down-and/) [Lakhdar Brahimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakhdar-brahimi/) > [Take a young man from Gaza living in the most horrendous conditions - most of it imposed by Israel - who straps dynamite around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/take-a-young-man-from-gaza-living-in-the-most-horrendous-conditions/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Evolution cannot be brought about by the use of dynamite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-parlby/evolution-cannot-be-brought-about-by-the-use-of-dynamite/) Irene Parlby > [I seriously think I could have sat in the middle of the kitchen floor rubbing two sticks together over a pile of dynamite blocks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-sonnenblick/i-seriously-think-i-could-have-sat-in-the-middle-of-the-kitchen-floor/) [Jordan Sonnenblick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-sonnenblick/) > [Print neatly. That's the kind of advice that the IRS considers a "dynamite" tax tip. If you ask them a real tax question, such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/print-neatly-that-s-the-kind-of-advice-that-the-irs-considers-a/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) ## More by William Faulkner > [“The river itself is not a hundred yards across, and pa and Vernon and Vardaman and Dewey Dell are the only things in sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-river-itself-is-not-a-hundred-yards-across-and-pa-and-vernon-and/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [The quality an artist must have is objectivity in judging his work, plus the honesty and courage not to kid himself about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-quality-an-artist-must-have-is-objectivity-in-judging-his-work/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“Luster returned, wearing a stiff new straw hat with a colored band and carrying a cloth cap. 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If people all over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/never-be-afraid-to-raise-your-voice-for-honesty-and-truth-and/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/to-understand-the-world-you-must-first-understand-a-place-like/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“What modren ideas?” pap said. “I didn’t know there was but one idea about work—until it is done, it ain’t done, and when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/what-modren-ideas-pap-said-i-didn-t-know-there-was-but-one-idea-about/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“It was only as he put his hand on the door that he became aware of complete silence beyond it, a silence which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-was-only-as-he-put-his-hand-on-the-door-that-he-became-aware-of/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“She has no mother because fatherblood hates with love and pride, but motherblood with hate loves and cohabits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/she-has-no-mother-because-fatherblood-hates-with-love-and-pride-but/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“Byron listened quietly, thinking to himself how people everywhere are about the same, but that it did seem that in a small town, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/byron-listened-quietly-thinking-to-himself-how-people-everywhere-are/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“It was too late. Maybe yesterday, while I was still a child, but not now. I knew too much, had seen too much, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-was-too-late-maybe-yesterday-while-i-was-still-a-child-but-not-now/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) [Explore all 673 William Faulkner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) ## More Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [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/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything, every part that you approach has to be somehow rooted in yourself. You have to somehow root everything so that it's not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/everything-every-part-that-you-approach-has-to-be-somehow-rooted-in/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech. If you approach me at a bus stop and murmur Thou still unravished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/literature-transforms-and-intensifies-ordinary-language-deviates/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear. 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