Doe Quote by Margaret Atwood
“A Paradox, the doughnut hole. Empty space, once, but now they've learned to market even that. A minus quantity; nothing, rendered edible. I wondered if they might be used-metaphorically, of course-to demonstrate the existence of God. Does naming a sphere of nothingness transmute it into being?”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Consumer Culture, 2015
The quote uses a doughnut hole as a metaphor for how even emptiness can be commercialized, questioning whether naming something creates reality and suggesting a deeper philosophical inquiry about existence.
In simple terms: Even emptiness can be turned into a product, prompting thoughts about naming and reality.
Consider how language shapes perception of what exists.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- marketing analysis
- product design
- philosophical debate
- theological reflection
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to "market" emptiness?
- Can naming truly create being?
Naming alone does not guarantee existence; cultural context determines meaning.