--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To name a thing is easy: the difficulty…" description: "\"To name a thing is easy: the difficulty is to discern it before its appearance.\" — Pierre-Joseph Proudhon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9c/pierre-joseph-proudhon-11634_adversity_to-name-a-thing-is-easy-the-difficulty-i_2923955.jpg" --- # To name a thing is easy: the difficulty is to discern it… ![“To name a thing is easy: the difficulty is to discern it before its appearance.” quote by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9c/pierre-joseph-proudhon-11634_adversity_to-name-a-thing-is-easy-the-difficulty-i_2923955.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9c/pierre-joseph-proudhon-11634_adversity_to-name-a-thing-is-easy-the-difficulty-i_2923955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9c/pierre-joseph-proudhon-11634_adversity_to-name-a-thing-is-easy-the-difficulty-i_2923955.jpg) > “To name a thing is easy: the difficulty is to discern it before its appearance.” [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Naming is simple; recognizing a concept before it manifests is the real challenge. **In simple terms:** Seeing before naming. Key Takeaway Cultivate foresight. Themes philosophy creativity intuition Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - product development - trend spotting - research planning Key Concepts epistemology anticipation Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate an emerging idea? - How can you test a concept before it fully appears? A Different Perspective Pre‑emptive insight can be vague and uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) [Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty/) [Difficulty Discern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty-discern-4274352/) [Discern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discern/) [Discern Appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discern-appearance-4274353/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Easy Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy-difficulty-3799801/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) ## Related quotes > [You can say that designing is quite easy; the difficulty lies in finding a new way to explore beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yohji-yamamoto/you-can-say-that-designing-is-quite-easy-the-difficulty-lies-in/) [Yohji Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yohji-yamamoto/) > [The human race is always trying this dodge of making everything entirely easy; but the difficulty which it shifts off one thing it shifts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-human-race-is-always-trying-this-dodge-of-making-everything/) [Gilbert K. 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Most states make no effort to study the cases or compile any data,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wil-s-hylton/exactly-who-does-use-the-safe-haven-laws-is-difficult-to-discern-most/) [Wil S. Hylton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wil-s-hylton/) > [“And thus we can plainly discern, that after a people have been once aenlightened by the bSpirit of God, and have had great cknowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/and-thus-we-can-plainly-discern-that-after-a-people-have-been-once/) [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/) > [I go to my past in order to discern the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-doherty/i-go-to-my-past-in-order-to-discern-the-future/) [Catherine Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-doherty/) > [“I infallibly discern a flaw in all those who are interested in the same things as myself. . . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-m-cioran/i-infallibly-discern-a-flaw-in-all-those-who-are-interested-in-the/) [Emil M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-m-cioran/) > [We need to discern what it is that requires reflection in our lives and in what we read and how we read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/we-need-to-discern-what-it-is-that-requires-reflection-in-our-lives/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [Every election matters. Anyone that tells you otherwise doesn't understand politics. That said, not every election sends sweeping messages that are easy to discern,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/every-election-matters-anyone-that-tells-you-otherwise-doesn-t/) [Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/) > [“. . . I would learn to discern and distinguish the difference between presumption and confession, between those who see what the goal is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/i-would-learn-to-discern-and-distinguish-the-difference-between/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“You can easily discern whether someone is truly interested to learn & know when s/he asks you or cornering and ambushing you to stumble...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assegid-habtewold/you-can-easily-discern-whether-someone-is-truly-interested-to-learn/) [Assegid Habtewold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assegid-habtewold/) ## More by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon > [When deeds speak, words are nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/when-deeds-speak-words-are-nothing/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [In any given society the authority of man over man runs in inverse proportion to the intellectual development of that society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/in-any-given-society-the-authority-of-man-over-man-runs-in-inverse/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [Communism is inequality, but not as property is. Property is exploitation of the weak by the strong. Communism is exploitation of the strong by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/communism-is-inequality-but-not-as-property-is-property-is/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [ The faults of which we ask you \[God\] the remittance, it is you who make us commit them; the traps of which we implore… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/the-faults-of-which-we-ask-you-god-the-remittance-it-is-you-who-make/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [Does it seem to you impossible to imagine anything more inextricable than the social contract, when you think of the frightful number of relations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/does-it-seem-to-you-impossible-to-imagine-anything-more-inextricable/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [The proprietor, producing neither by his own labor nor by his implement, and receiving products in exchange for nothing, is either a parasite or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/the-proprietor-producing-neither-by-his-own-labor-nor-by-his/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [The great are only great because we are on our knees. Let us rise!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/the-great-are-only-great-because-we-are-on-our-knees-let-us-rise/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [The social revolution is seriously compromised if it comes through a political revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/the-social-revolution-is-seriously-compromised-if-it-comes-through-a/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [Property is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/property-is-impossible/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [Justice is a faculty that may be developed. This development is what constitutes the education of the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/justice-is-a-faculty-that-may-be-developed-this-development-is-what/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [To be governed ... is to be watched, inspected, directed, indoctrinated, numbered, estimated, regulated, commanded, controlled, law-driven, preached at, spied upon, censured, checked, valued,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/to-be-governed-is-to-be-watched-inspected-directed-indoctrinated/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [Communism--the first expression of the social nature--is the first term of social development--the thesis; property, the reverse of communism, is the second term--the antithesis.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/communism-the-first-expression-of-the-social-nature-is-the-first-term/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [Democracy is nothing but the Tyranny of Majorities, the most abominable tyranny of all, for it is not based on the authority of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/democracy-is-nothing-but-the-tyranny-of-majorities-the-most/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [“Of a real, true contract, on whatsoever subject, there is no vestige in Rousseau's book. To give an exact idea of his theory, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/of-a-real-true-contract-on-whatsoever-subject-there-is-no-vestige-in/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [the government can do nothing for you. But you can do everything for yourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/the-government-can-do-nothing-for-you-but-you-can-do-everything-for/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) [Explore all 57 Pierre-Joseph Proudhon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) [S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To name a thing is easy: the difficulty is to discern it before its appearance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pierre-Joseph Proudhon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/to-name-a-thing-is-easy-the-difficulty-is-to-discern-it-before-its/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/to-name-a-thing-is-easy-the-difficulty-is-to-discern-it-before-its/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9c/pierre-joseph-proudhon-11634_adversity_to-name-a-thing-is-easy-the-difficulty-i_2923955.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9c/pierre-joseph-proudhon-11634_adversity_to-name-a-thing-is-easy-the-difficulty-i_2923955.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9c/pierre-joseph-proudhon-11634_adversity_to-name-a-thing-is-easy-the-difficulty-i_2923955.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To name a thing is easy: the difficulty is to discern it before its appearance.” — Pierre-Joseph Proudhon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Pierre-Joseph Proudhon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To name a thing is easy:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/to-name-a-thing-is-easy-the-difficulty-is-to-discern-it-before-its/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/to-name-a-thing-is-easy-the-difficulty-is-to-discern-it-before-its/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```