Our words are similar to wells, and those wells can…
““Our words are similar to wells, and those wells can accommodate the most diverse waters: cataracts, drizzles of other times, oceans that were and will be of ashes, whirlpools of rivers, of human being, and of tears as well. Our words are like people, and sometimes much more, not simple carriers of only one meaning. They are not like those bored pots holding always the same water until their beings, their tongues, forget them, and then crack or get tired, and lean to one side, almost dead. No. You can put entire rivers in our pots, and if perchance they break, if the envelope of the words cracks, the water remain: vivid, intact, running, and renovating itself unceasingly. They are live beings who wander on their own, our words: animals that never repeat themselves and are never resigned to a single skin, to an unchanging temperature, to the same steps.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Words are dynamic, multi‑layered vessels that hold countless meanings and emotions, constantly reshaping themselves.
In simple terms: Words hold many meanings and change.
Key Takeaway
Treat language as living, adaptable.
Themes
language
meaning
fluidity
Mood
reflective
inspired
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- teaching
- public speaking
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
semiotics
metaphor
polysemy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you let words evolve in your mind?
- Can you embrace ambiguity in communication?
A Different Perspective
Words may be misunderstood if taken literally.