Kilgore here will keep the record straight.” “Kilgore?”…
““Kilgore here will keep the record straight.” “Kilgore?” “The tape recorder. I name things. If you name things, then you treat them better.” Fiona motioned with her chin to a poster tacked to the opposite wall. “Does she have a name?” “She” was a bikini-clad model spraying a Lamborghini with a garden hose and, no, she didn’t—at least, not one I knew. I lowered my eyes. “We’ll call her Prudence, then,” Fiona said. “Now whenever you wake up, you can say, ‘Good morning, Prudence, how’s tricks? Still in the car washing game, I see.’” “‘How’s tricks’?” “‘How’s things,’” Fiona explained. “Slang from the good ol’ days. I learned it from a kid in a newsie cap.” “A newsie cap?” “We’re getting ahead of ourselves.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Naming objects can foster respect and improve how we treat them, influencing behavior through personal connection.
In simple terms: Naming things can change how we treat them.
Key Takeaway
Give names to objects to encourage care.
Themes
respect
language
behavior
psychology
Mood
playful
reflective
Type
literary
conversational
When to use this quote
- home care
- vehicle maintenance
- team dynamics
- personal habits
Key Concepts
anthropomorphism
social conditioning
Questions to Reflect On
- How does naming affect your relationship with objects?
- Can naming improve responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Names may not change intrinsic properties, only perception.