Activity Quote by Mark Twain
“Often a quite assified remark becomes sanctified by use and petrified by custom; it is then a permanency, its term of activity a geologic period.”
About This Quote
A statement initially dismissed can gain authority through repeated use and become entrenched by tradition, lasting like a geological era.
In simple terms: Ideas can become entrenched over time.
Key Takeaway
Repeated use can turn trivial remarks into lasting doctrines.
Themes
authority
tradition
language
time
cultural inertia
Mood
reflective
skeptical
Type
aphorism
observation
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- political rhetoric
- marketing slogans
- cultural folklore
Key Concepts
semantic shift
social reinforcement
historical perspective
Practical Applications
- critical analysis of discourse
- designing persuasive messaging
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do societies preserve certain ideas despite their origins?
- How does repetition affect perceived legitimacy?
![“Well, well -- the prizes all go to the women who 'play their cards well' -- but if they can only be won in that way, I would rather lose the game ... [C]lever [women] bide their time -- make themselves indispensable first, and then se font prier [=play hard to get]. Clever -- but I can't do it.” quote by Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b6c/dorothy-l-sayers-738_attachment_well-well-the-prizes-all-go-to-the-women_2775601.jpg)
