Culture Quote by Daniel C. Dennett
““Asked by a student for an example of infectious cultural junk that is hard to eradicate, I replied, "Well, it's like, when, like, you use a phrase which, like, isn't really, like, doing any serious work, but, like you go on, like, using it." To which the student replied, "I, like, understand the point, but I wanted, like, an example.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Podcast on philosophy of language, 2015
The speaker mocks vague filler‑filled speech, showing how meaningless buzzwords can mask lack of substance.
In simple terms: Empty phrases hide real meaning.
Key Takeaway
Avoid using filler words.
Themes
communication
language
clarity
Mood
frustrated
reflective
Type
critical
humorous
When to use this quote
- academic lecture
- daily conversation
- media interviews
Key Concepts
philosophy of language
semantic emptiness
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you make your speech more precise?
- What habits lead to overusing filler?
A Different Perspective
Often the listener still misses the point despite the speaker’s effort.
![“I think we should stop treating ["God works in mysterious ways"] as any kind of wisdom and recognize it as the transparently defensive propaganda that it is. A positive response might be, "Oh good! I love a mystery. Let's see if we can solve this one, too. Do you have any ideas?” quote by Daniel C. Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/33a/daniel-c-dennett-17655_apologetics_i-think-we-should-stop-treating-god-work_310612.jpg)
