--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Titles are but nicknames, and every…" description: "\"Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title. The thing is perfectly harmless in itself, but it marks a sort of foppery in the human charact..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/thomas-paine-267_character_titles-are-but-nicknames-and-every-nickn_3121322.png" --- # Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title… ![“Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title. The thing is perfectly harmless in itself, but it marks a sort of foppery in the human character, which degrades it.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/thomas-paine-267_character_titles-are-but-nicknames-and-every-nickn_3121322.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/thomas-paine-267_character_titles-are-but-nicknames-and-every-nickn_3121322.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/thomas-paine-267_character_titles-are-but-nicknames-and-every-nickn_3121322.png) > “Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title. The thing is perfectly harmless in itself, but it marks a sort of foppery in the human character, which degrades it.” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Names are harmless but can reveal superficial vanity, diminishing true character. **In simple terms:** Names can expose shallow vanity. Key Takeaway Beware of superficial labels. Themes identity vanity authenticity Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - personal branding - social interactions - self‑presentation - leadership Key Concepts Existentialism social critique Questions to Reflect On - Do you let titles define you? - How can you see beyond superficial labels? A Different Perspective Names can become limiting if over‑emphasized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nicknames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nicknames/) ## Related quotes > [Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/titles-are-but-nicknames-and-every-nickname-is-a-title/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The title is the first thing that I have. Then when I have that title, I have to make sure that the title...is like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/the-title-is-the-first-thing-that-i-have-then-when-i-have-that-title/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [All writers know how important a good title is. It's the first thing readers see, along with a knock-your-socks-off cover - a seductive 'come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-leavitt/all-writers-know-how-important-a-good-title-is-it-s-the-first-thing/) [Caroline Leavitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-leavitt/) > [People tried to test me (in 1999) and I came up with some pretty good throws. Everybody on the team calls me 'Bazooka' now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/people-tried-to-test-me-in-1999-and-i-came-up-with-some-pretty-good/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [My nickname is Dickie Jukebox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/my-nickname-is-dickie-jukebox/) [Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/) > [At school my nickname is the National Anthem girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-degarmo/at-school-my-nickname-is-the-national-anthem-girl/) [Diana DeGarmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-degarmo/) > [Carrot Top is a nickname that people call me and I thought that it was more marketable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/carrot-top-is-a-nickname-that-people-call-me-and-i-thought-that-it/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [You are so vicious. (Tee) Hence the nickname. (Syd) You know it’s bad when you make me look like Glinda the Good Witch, right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-are-so-vicious-tee-hence-the-nickname-syd-you-know-it-s-bad-when/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Does he have a nickname?' Diana went on remorselessly. 'I mean, 'gaiphage' is so long. Can we call him phage? 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I tell them I like to go by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/when-i-go-out-with-the-ladies-i-don-t-force-them-to-pronounce-my-name/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“It’s funny, Matt, everyone thinks Roman’s a nickname--but it’s not, it's just my name. We've got military names way back in our clan. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-sindell/it-s-funny-matt-everyone-thinks-roman-s-a-nickname-but-it-s-not-it-s/) Jon Sindell ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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