--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Try telling the boy who’s just had his…" description: "\"“Try telling the boy who’s just had his girlfriend’s name cut into his arm that there’s slippage between the signifier and the signified. Or better yet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bc/todd-davis-86657_art_try-telling-the-boy-who-s-just-had-his-g_1329223.jpg" --- # Try telling the boy who’s just had his girlfriend’s name… ![“Try telling the boy who’s just had his girlfriend’s name cut into his arm that there’s slippage between the signifier and the signified. Or better yet explain to the girl who watched in the mirror as the tattoo artist stitched the word for her father’s name (on earth as in heaven) across her back…” quote by Todd Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bc/todd-davis-86657_art_try-telling-the-boy-who-s-just-had-his-g_1329223.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bc/todd-davis-86657_art_try-telling-the-boy-who-s-just-had-his-g_1329223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bc/todd-davis-86657_art_try-telling-the-boy-who-s-just-had-his-g_1329223.jpg) > ““Try telling the boy who’s just had his girlfriend’s name cut into his arm that there’s slippage between the signifier and the signified. Or better yet explain to the girl who watched in the mirror as the tattoo artist stitched the word for her father’s name (on earth as in heaven) across her back that words aren’t made of flesh and blood, that they don’t bite the skin. Language is the animal we’ve trained to pick up the scent of meaning. It’s why when the boy hears his father yelling at the door he sends the dog that he’s kept hungry, that he’s kicked, then loved, to attack the man, to show him that every word has a consequence, that language, when used right, hurts.”” [Todd Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words are symbols detached from physical reality; misusing language can cause real harm, showing the power of meaning. **In simple terms:** Words are symbols; misuse hurts. Key Takeaway Use language responsibly and recognize its impact. Themes language meaning communication responsibility psychology Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - media - personal relationships Key Concepts semiotics signifier/signified symbolic interaction Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape perception? - When can words empower rather than harm? A Different Perspective Language can also heal and connect when used wisely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Flesh and blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flesh-and-blood/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-animal-4455046/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Skin Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skin-language-2875071/) [Tattoo Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tattoo-artist/) [Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling/) [Telling Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-boy-2676023/) [Word Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-father-567506/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [They keep telling me to move on, but how can I when this boy gots my heart on lock; yeah I love him ;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/they-keep-telling-me-to-move-on-but-how-can-i-when-this-boy-gots-my/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [Thats what Ive been, I say, thats what Ive been telling you, boy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/thats-what-ive-been-i-say-thats-what-ive-been-telling-you-boy/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [“Our voices sound kinder in the skin of our own language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/our-voices-sound-kinder-in-the-skin-of-our-own-language/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“She isn't a storm or a leader or a king or a war or anyone whose life and death makes noise. 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Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [In my entire life growing up I've never heard my dad say an unkind word about anyone. My father has always taken the high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-panaro/in-my-entire-life-growing-up-i-ve-never-heard-my-dad-say-an-unkind/) [Hugh Panaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-panaro/) > [Can anyone be a father without beginning to be one? Yes, one who did not begin his existence. 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He worked hard in the fields, but my father never hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/my-father-was-a-man-of-love-he-always-loved-me-to-death-he-worked/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [The best word to describe my father? Thoughtful. There was a tender quality to Dad that his sense of fun could sometimes mask. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/the-best-word-to-describe-my-father-thoughtful-there-was-a-tender/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [“Do it together. Remember in primary school we learned that a verb is a 'doing' word? Well, a father is as much a verb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/do-it-together-remember-in-primary-school-we-learned-that-a-verb-is-a/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [ First word \[of my father\] when I arrived \[as a CEO\] is, 'Son, i hope your first deal is a loser, otherwise, you'll think… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/first-word-of-my-father-when-i-arrived-as-a-ceo-is-son-i-hope-your/) [Charles Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-koch/) ## More by Todd Davis > [“Americans would not mind higher taxes if they were wrapped in bacon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-davis/americans-would-not-mind-higher-taxes-if-they-were-wrapped-in-bacon/) [Todd Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-davis/) > [“Do not give the gold in your pocket to one who doesn't value it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-davis/do-not-give-the-gold-in-your-pocket-to-one-who-doesn-t-value-it/) [Todd Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-davis/) [Explore all 3 Todd Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-davis/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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