--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Always\" and \"never\" are not words that…" description: "\"“Always\" and \"never\" are not words that have much meaning in literary study. For one thing, as soon as something seems to always be true, some wise guy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62f/thomas-c-foster-20469_education_always-and-never-are-not-words-that-have_1427819.jpg" --- # Always" and "never" are not words that have much meaning… ![“Always" and "never" are not words that have much meaning in literary study. For one thing, as soon as something seems to always be true, some wise guy will come along and write something to prove that it's not.” quote by Thomas C. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62f/thomas-c-foster-20469_education_always-and-never-are-not-words-that-have_1427819.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62f/thomas-c-foster-20469_education_always-and-never-are-not-words-that-have_1427819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62f/thomas-c-foster-20469_education_always-and-never-are-not-words-that-have_1427819.jpg) > ““Always" and "never" are not words that have much meaning in literary study. For one thing, as soon as something seems to always be true, some wise guy will come along and write something to prove that it's not.”” [Thomas C. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-c-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Points out that absolute terms limit critical thinking and literary analysis **In simple terms:** Never and always are too rigid for literature Key Takeaway Avoid absolute language when interpreting texts Themes literary analysis critical thinking language interpretation Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - academic essays - book clubs - writing workshops - teaching literature Key Concepts cognitive flexibility semantic nuance critical reading Questions to Reflect On - Why do we cling to absolutes? - How can we embrace ambiguity in analysis? A Different Perspective Overuse of absolutes can oversimplify complex works ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Wise guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-guy/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [General editors' preface The growth of translation studies as a separate discipline is a success story of the 1980s. 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