title: Static method cannot access instance members of a class
body: <p>In Liang's 9th edition <em>Introduction to Java Programming</em> it states, "A static method cannot access instance members of a class," (pg 312).  I see why an instance member of a class would need to access a method (which might be static), but why would a method need to access an instance member?  To me, "access" means "access by way of the dot operator."  In other words:</p>
  
  <pre><code> Class myClass = new Class();
   myClass.someStaticMethod();
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>makes sense, whereas:</p>
  
  <pre><code> someNonStaticMethod.myClass
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>or</p>
  
  <pre><code> someStaticMethod.myClass
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>does not.  Is the someNonStaticMethod.myClass syntax allowed?  I don't believe I've ever seen such formatting.  If it is not allowed, why mention that static methods cannot access instance members of a class?  </p>
  
  <p>Please help lift my confusion.</p>
  
  <p>-DI</p>