--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To demarcate [words in way that changes…" description: "\"To demarcate [words in way that changes the meaning] is simply to speak a different language than everyone else. And I do not accept semantic games lik..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b43/richard-carrier-39276_accepting_to-demarcate-words-in-way-that-changes-t_2685809.jpg" --- # To demarcate \[words in way that changes the meaning\] is… ![“To demarcate [words in way that changes the meaning] is simply to speak a different language than everyone else. And I do not accept semantic games like that. [...] We need to use words as they are actually used and understood. We can correct errors and inconsistencies and make distinctions. But…” quote by Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b43/richard-carrier-39276_accepting_to-demarcate-words-in-way-that-changes-t_2685809.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b43/richard-carrier-39276_accepting_to-demarcate-words-in-way-that-changes-t_2685809.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b43/richard-carrier-39276_accepting_to-demarcate-words-in-way-that-changes-t_2685809.jpg) > “To demarcate \[words in way that changes the meaning\] is simply to speak a different language than everyone else. And I do not accept semantic games like that. \[...\] We need to use words as they are actually used and understood. We can correct errors and inconsistencies and make distinctions. But we can't try to foist an alien language on people.” [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that altering word meanings to create a new language is unacceptable; words should be used as commonly understood to maintain clear communication. **In simple terms:** Words should retain their common meanings. Key Takeaway Promote clear, shared language. Themes language semantics communication clarity politics Mood critical analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - academic debates - political rhetoric - media analysis Key Concepts linguistics semantic integrity public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How to balance clarity with language change? - When is redefining terms justified? A Different Perspective Rigid adherence may limit linguistic evolution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Different languages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-languages/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Inconsistency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconsistency/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I will not allow mere names to make distinctions for me, but still see men in herds for all them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-will-not-allow-mere-names-to-make-distinctions-for-me-but-still-see/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In dreams you don't need to make any distinctions between things. Not at all. Boundaries don't exist. So in dreams there are hardly ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/in-dreams-you-don-t-need-to-make-any-distinctions-between-things-not/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [For our immigration policy to make sense, it is necessary to make distinctions between those who obey the law, and those who violate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/for-our-immigration-policy-to-make-sense-it-is-necessary-to-make/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [“Make No Distinctions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/make-no-distinctions/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [I think it is inevitable that we make Us/Them distinctions but there's nothing inevitable about who counts as a Them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/i-think-it-is-inevitable-that-we-make-us-them-distinctions-but-there/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [Language is a personality as well. People are different when they speak different languages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bezmozgis/language-is-a-personality-as-well-people-are-different-when-they/) [David Bezmozgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bezmozgis/) > [One of the things I tend to do is open myself up to a variety of voices. 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Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) > [That someone would want another human being to suffer, or would even tolerate the idea, for committing no crime at all but being reasonable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/that-someone-would-want-another-human-being-to-suffer-or-would-even/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) > [If I had to sit in Heaven forever, knowing that there are these people, millions and millions- probably billions of people, suffering these eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/if-i-had-to-sit-in-heaven-forever-knowing-that-there-are-these-people/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) > [It is probably true that almost all atheists stand for the values of reason and freethought. I will attempt to put these values in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/it-is-probably-true-that-almost-all-atheists-stand-for-the-values-of/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) > [“If God wants something from me, he would tell me. He wouldn't leave someone else to do this, as if an infinite being were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/if-god-wants-something-from-me-he-would-tell-me-he-wouldn-t-leave/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) > [Reason bases its decisions on evidence available to everyone, and allows people to disagree when evidence is lacking. Religion will never do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/reason-bases-its-decisions-on-evidence-available-to-everyone-and/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) > [The Christian religion is so manifestly contrary to the facts, belief in it can only be held with the most delusional gerrymandering imaginable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/the-christian-religion-is-so-manifestly-contrary-to-the-facts-belief/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) > [Christians always write to me threatening me with Hell. Strange how they think this vindicates them and their religion. Threats are the hallmark of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/christians-always-write-to-me-threatening-me-with-hell-strange-how/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) > [You must test your own religious claims and texts by the same standards you apply to other religions. 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It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. 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Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To demarcate [words in way that changes the meaning] is simply to speak a different language than everyone else. And I do not accept semantic games like that. [...] We need to use words as they are actually used and understood. We can correct errors and inconsistencies and make distinctions. 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