First person Quote by John Ashbery
“How funny your name would be if you could follow it back to where the first person thought of saying it, naming himself that, or maybe some other persons thought of it and named that person. It would be like following a river to its source, which would be impossible. Rivers have no source.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror” (excerpt), 1975
Names are arbitrary labels that trace back to unknown origins, like a river without a source.
In simple terms: Names have no clear beginning.
Key Takeaway
Accept the mystery behind labels.
Themes
identity
language
origin
Mood
curious
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family naming traditions
- brand naming
- personal identity formation
Key Concepts
naming
etymology
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What does your name mean to you?
- Can you live beyond a label?
A Different Perspective
Names can constrain perception and self‑concept.
![“If I do manage to come up with a scheme [to naming], however, I stick to it, which is why my cats are named after gods-Loki and Athena, who are, respectively, absolutely straightforward and affectionate, and dumber than dirt. I learned my lesson. I will name my next cat 'Satan' or 'Marduk' or…” quote by Ursula Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85d/ursula-vernon-21101_affectionate_if-i-do-manage-to-come-up-with-a-scheme_100482.jpg)
