Feelings Quote by Catherynne M. Valente
““I can choose the subroutine and perform sadness. How is that different from what you are doing, except that you use the word feelings and I use the word feelings , out of deference for your cultural memes which say: there is all the difference in the world. I erase the word even as I say it, obliterate it at the same time that I initiate it, because I must use some word yet this one offends you. I delete it, yet it remains.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Radiant Dawn, 2022
The speaker highlights how labeling emotions can both conceal and reveal feeling, showing that words shape perception yet cannot fully erase experience.
In simple terms: Words shape feeling but cannot erase it.
Key Takeaway
Be mindful of how language frames emotion.
Themes
language
emotion
perception
identity
Mood
introspective
conflicted
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- creative writing
- interpersonal conflict
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
semiotics
psychology
cultural memes
Questions to Reflect On
- How does naming an emotion change its impact?
- Can we feel without words?
A Different Perspective
The paradox of naming feelings may limit genuine emotional processing.
