Classes Quote by James Gleick
““Names are not the things they name. Classes are not coextensive with subclasses.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Information, 2011
Names are symbols, not the entities they denote; categories are not always perfectly nested.
In simple terms: Names are symbols; categories differ.
Recognize limits of classification.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- software design
- legal definitions
- scientific classification
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle ambiguous classifications?
- When do you need new terminology?
Rigid categories can oversimplify complexity.