"Banal words function as a feeble phenomena that fall into their own mental bogs of meaning"
- Robert Smithson
About this Quote
This quote by Robert Smithson is a commentary on the power of language and how it can be utilized to communicate meaning. He suggests that words can end up being so commonplace and worn-out that they lose their power and become useless. He compares this to a psychological bog, where words end up being stuck in a cycle of repeating and absence of originality. Smithson is suggesting that language can end up being stagnant and dull if it is not utilized in a creative and meaningful method. He is motivating us to believe more deeply about the words we use and to strive for originality and imagination in our language. By doing this, we can make sure that our words have the power to communicate meaning and to produce an enduring impact.
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