The further off from England the nearer is to France-_x000D_ _x000D_ Then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance.
Lewis CarrollRead
'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
Words hold meanings determined by the speaker, highlighting the subjective nature of language.
This quote from Lewis Carroll's 'Through the Looking-Glass' features Humpty Dumpty asserting his belief that the meaning of words is defined by the individual using them. It suggests that language is not a fixed set of definitions but rather a fluid entity shaped by personal interpretation and context, raising questions about communication, understanding, and the power dynamics involved in language.
Themes
LanguageMeaningSubjectivityCommunicationInterpretation
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about free speech, this quote can illustrate the idea of personal interpretation of words.
More from Lewis Carroll
All quotes βTo the Looking-Glass world it was Alice that said 'I've a sceptre in hand, I've a crown on my head. Let the Looking-Glass creatures, whatever they be, Come and dine with the Red Queen, the White Queen, and me.
Lewis CarrollRead
So she was considering in her own mind...whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up & picking the daisies.
Lewis CarrollRead
Once she remembered trying to box her own ears for having cheated herself in a game of croquet she was playing against herself, for this curious child was very fond of pretending to be two people.
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Rule Forty-two. All persons more than a mile high to leave the court.
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Crawling at your feet,' said the Gnat (Alice drew her feet back in some alarm), `you may observe a Bread-and-Butterfly. Its wings are thin slices of Bread-and-butter, its body is a crust, and its head is a lump of sugar.' And what does IT live on?' Weak tea with cream in it.' A new difficulty came into Alice's head. `Supposing it couldn't find any?' she suggested. Then it would die, of course.' But that must happen very often,' Alice remarked thoughtfully. It always happens,' said the Gnat.
Lewis CarrollRead
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