---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Too late for that now,” the Eldest…"
description: "\"“Too late for that now,” the Eldest Leprechaun said. “The damage is done. Give the thing a name, and it takes shape. They gave a name and a shape to th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/andrew-m-greeley-47954_damage-is-done_too-late-for-that-now-the-eldest-leprech_584601.jpg"
---

#  Too late for that now,” the Eldest Leprechaun said. “The…

![“Too late for that now,” the Eldest Leprechaun said. “The damage is done. Give the thing a name, and it takes shape. They gave a name and a shape to the force that’s always hated us. It’s everything we’re not. It’s New Ireland, it’s money for money’s sake, brown paper envelopes stuffed full of…” quote by Andrew M. Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/andrew-m-greeley-47954_damage-is-done_too-late-for-that-now-the-eldest-leprech_584601.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/andrew-m-greeley-47954_damage-is-done_too-late-for-that-now-the-eldest-leprech_584601.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/andrew-m-greeley-47954_damage-is-done_too-late-for-that-now-the-eldest-leprech_584601.jpg)

> ““Too late for that now,” the Eldest Leprechaun said. “The damage is done. Give the thing a name, and it takes shape. They gave a name and a shape to the force that’s always hated us. It’s everything we’re not. It’s New Ireland, it’s money for money’s sake, brown paper envelopes stuffed full of bribes—the turn of mind that says that the old’s only good for theme parks, and the new is all there needs to be. It’s been getting stronger and stronger all this while.And now that it’s more important to the people living in the city than we are, it’s become physically real.””

[Andrew M. Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-m-greeley/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Naming a concept gives it power, turning abstract grievances into tangible forces that dominate society.

**In simple terms:** Naming gives power to ideas.

Key Takeaway

Beware how labels shape reality.

Themes

power identity corruption culture materialism

Mood

cautious critical reflective

Type

analytical philosophical

When to use this quote

- political discourse
- corporate branding
- urban development
- media narratives

Key Concepts

social construct symbolic violence collective imagination

Questions to Reflect On

- How do the names we use influence our perception of problems?
- Can we change a harmful narrative by renaming it?

A Different Perspective

Names can oversimplify complex issues, leading to scapegoating.

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[Damage is done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage-is-done/) [Eldest Leprechaun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eldest-leprechaun-4797936/) [Forgetting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetting/) [Getting stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-stronger/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Leprechaun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leprechaun/) [Leprechaun Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leprechaun-said-4797935/) [Living in the city](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-in-the-city/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [New Ireland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-ireland-4204521/) [Says Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-old-1012859/) [Theme park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theme-park/) [Theme parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theme-parks/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) [Transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformation/)

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## More by Andrew M. Greeley

> [“So you would kill Old Ireland?” Anna Livia said. “You would kill yourself, for without Old Ireland, you wouldn’t be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-m-greeley/so-you-would-kill-old-ireland-anna-livia-said-you-would-kill-yourself/)

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