--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: First you must give it a name,” said the…" description: "\"“First you must give it a name,” said the snake. “Naming a thing takes away some of its power and gives it to you instead.”\" — Claire Legrand" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/claire-legrand-20550_anxiety_first-you-must-give-it-a-name-said-the-s_397151.jpg" --- # First you must give it a name,” said the snake. “Naming a… ![“First you must give it a name,” said the snake. “Naming a thing takes away some of its power and gives it to you instead.” quote by Claire Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/claire-legrand-20550_anxiety_first-you-must-give-it-a-name-said-the-s_397151.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/claire-legrand-20550_anxiety_first-you-must-give-it-a-name-said-the-s_397151.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/claire-legrand-20550_anxiety_first-you-must-give-it-a-name-said-the-s_397151.jpg) > ““First you must give it a name,” said the snake. “Naming a thing takes away some of its power and gives it to you instead.”” [Claire Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-legrand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Naming something reduces its mystery and transfers authority to the namer, weakening its inherent power. **In simple terms:** Naming gives you control over something. Key Takeaway Use naming to demystify and manage challenges. Themes power language control Mood thoughtful empowering Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - conflict resolution - creative projects - leadership Key Concepts semantics psychology mythology Questions to Reflect On - How does naming change your perception of a problem? - When might naming be harmful? A Different Perspective Naming can oversimplify complex issues, leading to false confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Snake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snake/) ## Related quotes > [Naming one thing after another cannot, logically, increase the chances of the new thing turning out like the old thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/naming-one-thing-after-another-cannot-logically-increase-the-chances/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [Why does naming a thing give it so much power?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-sussman/why-does-naming-a-thing-give-it-so-much-power/) [Ellen Sussman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-sussman/) > [“...by the time you've finished naming a thing, it has already changed and the name you gave it no longer defines it exactly...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joann-sfar/by-the-time-you-ve-finished-naming-a-thing-it-has-already-changed-and/) [Joann Sfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joann-sfar/) > [“The little Pprince looked at the snake for a long time. 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I don’t steal people.” Mr. Tibbalt watched her, saying nothing. The silence made Victoria bristle. “Well, I don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-legrand/i-m-not-like-her-i-don-t-steal-people-mr-tibbalt-watched-her-saying/) [Claire Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-legrand/) > [“Wh-wh—“ Victoria tried to say, “What are you doing?” but the words would not come. Fear had seized her and would not let go.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-legrand/wh-wh-victoria-tried-to-say-what-are-you-doing-but-the-words-would/) [Claire Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-legrand/) > [“We all carry secrets,” said the fox. “The more we ignore them, the heavier they become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-legrand/we-all-carry-secrets-said-the-fox-the-more-we-ignore-them-the-heavier/) [Claire Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-legrand/) > [“They headed back into the maze of gardens. The shrubberies seemed to crawl. 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There is still a lot of work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-legrand/if-i-am-a-puzzle-this-is-the-moment-in-which-i-find-the-first-corner/) [Claire Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-legrand/) [Explore all 30 Claire Legrand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-legrand/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. 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