Command Quote by Margaret Mahy
““Stamp, your name is to be Laura. I'm sharing my name with you. I'm putting my power into you and you must do my work. Don't listen to anyone but me. You are to be my command laid on my enemy. you'll make a hole in him through which he'll drip away until he runs dry. As he drips out darkness, we'll smile together, me inside, you outside. We'll crush him between our smiles.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Changeover, Margaret Mahy, 1984
A magical transformation where a child’s identity is merged with another’s power to defeat an enemy, emphasizing sacrifice and unity.
In simple terms: A child shares power to defeat a foe.
Key Takeaway
Use shared strength to overcome obstacles.
Themes
identity
power
sacrifice
conflict
unity
Mood
dark
determined
hopeful
Type
narrative
mythic
inspirational
When to use this quote
- family conflict
- personal growth
- overcoming adversity
- teamwork
- self‑sacrifice
Key Concepts
magical realism
psychic bonding
heroic struggle
Questions to Reflect On
- How does sharing identity affect personal agency?
- What does the enemy symbolize?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may obscure literal meaning for some readers.
![“Geometry, which should only obey Physics, when united with it sometimes commands it. If it happens that the question which we wish to examine is too complicated for all the elements to be able to enter into the analytical comparison we wish to make, we separate the more inconvenient [elements], we…” quote by Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d9/jean-le-rond-d-alembert-26487_able_geometry-which-should-only-obey-physics_6945.jpg)
