Believe Quote by Gaston Bachelard
“We believe we can also show that words do not have exactly the same psychic "weight" depending on whether they belong to the language of reverie or to the language of daylight life-to rested language or language under surveillance-to the language of natural poetry or to the language hammered out by authoritarian prosodies.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Poetics of Space, Gaston Bachelard, 1958
Words carry different psychological impact depending on the context and purpose of the language they belong to.
In simple terms: Words feel heavier or lighter based on their context.
Key Takeaway
Choose language that matches your intent.
Themes
language
psychology
context
expression
authority
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
critical
Type
observational
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- political speech
- academic analysis
- personal reflection
- media criticism
Key Concepts
semantic weight
psychic impact
authoritarianism
poetry
reverie
Questions to Reflect On
- How does context change the power of a word?
- Can you identify when language feels oppressive?
A Different Perspective
The effect of word choice can be limited by audience bias and cultural differences.
