Language Quote by Obert Skye
““The word thing is an interesting word. At first glance it looks like the front half of one word combined with the last half of another. It's a versatile word. It can be good, as in, "what a nice thing," or "she has a thing for you." Or it can be bad, like "the thing under the bed," or "here's the thing, you're fired and you smell bad." Add an "s" to the back end of it and it becomes something that most people in the world can't get enough of. Things People love things. They collect things. They store things. They cherish things and then move on and cherish other things. People also buy things. Some buy a lot of things simply because their neighbors have those same things--which is a weird thing if you really think about it. It's remarkable what we'll do for the sake of things when in reality things couldn't care less about us.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Online blog post, 2018
The word “thing” is versatile, used positively or negatively, and “things” become objects of desire, yet things themselves are indifferent.
In simple terms: “Thing” can be good or bad; people love things but things don’t care.
Key Takeaway
Recognize objects’ limits and focus on people.
Themes
language
semantics
materialism
indifference
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- consumer behavior
- marketing
- personal values
- existential thought
Key Concepts
Word analysis
human desire
philosophical reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- How does material focus affect relationships?
- What can replace “things” for meaning?
A Different Perspective
Objects can’t fulfill emotional needs.
