Metaphor Quote by Jeanette Winterson
““The winged word. The mercurial word. The word that is both moth and lamp. The word that is itself and more. the associative word light with meanings. The word not netted by meaning. The exact word wide. The word not whore nor cenobite. The word unlied.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Passion by Jeanette Winterson, 1987
The quote celebrates the fluid, boundless nature of language, suggesting it can be both ordinary and luminous, defying fixed meaning.
In simple terms: Language is limitless and ever‑changing.
Key Takeaway
Embrace creative, unrestricted expression.
Themes
creativity
language
identity
expression
Mood
reflective
inspired
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing poetry
- artistic brainstorming
- philosophical discussions
- teaching literary analysis
Key Concepts
semiotics
metaphor
fluidity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does you redefine a word’s meaning?
- What limits do you feel in your own language?
A Different Perspective
Words can still be constrained by cultural or personal biases.
![“The sense of tragedy - according to Aristotle - comes, ironically enough, not from the protagonist's weak points but from his good qualities. Do you know what I'm getting at? People are drawn deeper into tragedy not by their defects but by their virtues. ... [But] we accept irony through a device…” quote by Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa9/haruki-murakami-21_accepting_the-sense-of-tragedy-according-to-aristo_23796.jpg)
