Lies, fictions and untrue suppositions can create new…
““Lies, fictions and untrue suppositions can create new human truths which build technology, art, language, everything that is distinctly of Man. The word "stone" for instance is not a stone, it is an oral pattern of vocal, dental and labial sounds or a scriptive arrangement of ink on a white surface, but man pretends that it is actually the thing it refers to. Every time he wishes to tell another man about a stone he can use the word instead of the thing itself. The word bodies forth the object in the mind of the listener and both speaker and listener are able to imagine a stone without seeing one. All the qualities of stone can be metaphorically and metonymically expressed. "I was stoned, stony broke, stone blind, stone cold sober, stonily silent," oh, whatever occurs. More than that, a man can look at a stone and call it a weapon, a paperweight, a doorstep, a jewel, an idol. He can give it function, he can possess it.””
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 symbols that let humans construct shared realities, shaping culture and technology.
In simple terms: Language builds shared reality.
Key Takeaway
Use precise language.
Themes
language
symbolism
creativity
technology
culture
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing
- teaching
- design
- marketing
Key Concepts
semiotics
constructivism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do metaphors shape thought?
- When do symbols become limiting?
A Different Perspective
Words can mislead if meanings diverge.