Able Quote by Katherine Paterson
“We humans have had from time unknown the compulsion to name things and thus to be able to deal with them. The name we give to something shapes our attitude toward it. And in ancient thought the name itself has power, so that to know someone's name is to have a certain power over him. And in some societies, as you know, there was a public name and a real or secret name, which would not be revealed to others.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Giver by Lois Lowry, 1993
Names influence perception and control; assigning a name gives us a framework to understand and affect the thing named.
In simple terms: Names shape how we see and treat things.
Key Takeaway
Be mindful of the power of naming.
Themes
identity
language
power
control
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- education
- leadership
- personal relationships
- branding
- policy making
Key Concepts
semiotics
social constructivism
anthropology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does naming affect your judgments?
- When might a name be misleading?
A Different Perspective
Names can oversimplify complex realities and create bias.
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