Broken home Quote by Joan Didion
““They feed back exactly what is given them. Because they do not believe in words - words are for "typeheads," Chester Anderson tells them, and a thought which needs words is just one more of those ego trips - their only proficient vocabulary is in the society's platitudes. As it happens I am still committed to the idea that the ability to think for one's self depends upon one's mastery of the language, and I am not optimistic about children who will settle for saying, to indicate that their mother and father do not live together, that they come from "a broken home." They are sixteen, fifteen, fourteen years old, younger all the time, an army of children waiting to be given the words.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The White Album” (1979)
Language shapes thought; lacking vocabulary limits independent thinking.
In simple terms: Words enable independent thought.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate precise language.
Themes
language
thought
education
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
essay
social commentary
When to use this quote
- teaching
- parenting
- media consumption
- policy making
Key Concepts
cognitive development
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language affect your worldview?
- What words are missing in public discourse?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on platitudes can stifle critical thinking.
