"I always have a quotation for everything - it saves original thinking"
- Dorothy L. Sayers
About this Quote
Dorothy L. Sayers, the distinguished British author and playwright, once remarked, "I always have a quotation for everything - it saves original thinking." This declaration is both funny and thought-provoking, offering insights into the nature of imagination, intelligence, and the human propensity to seek wisdom through the words of others.
At its core, the quote suggests a wry recommendation of the benefit and attraction of leaning on pre-existing concepts instead of continuously creating brand-new ones. Sayers, an erudite thinker herself, likely acknowledged the considerable effort required in initial thought. Estimating others can be a delightful shortcut, enabling one to borrow the authority, insight, or eloquence that includes someone else's established words. This regular pricing estimate can function as a layer of protection, cloaking one's own insecurities or uncertainties in the evaluated knowledge of others.
Additionally, the use of quotes can highlight the interconnectedness of human thought. By making use of the words of thinkers who have actually come before us, we participate in an ongoing dialogue across time and space, weaving our ideas into the bigger material of human understanding. Quotations can act as bridges, connecting diverse thoughts and developing new significances when positioned in unique contexts.
Yet, Sayers' quote also teases the concept that relying greatly on quotes might show a reluctance to engage deeply with original thinking-- an intellectual crutch, so to speak. There is an implicit challenge in her words: while quoting can improve discussion and writing, it needs to not replace the crucial procedure of developing one's own ideas and insights.
In essence, Sayers playfully critiques the balance in between respect for the wisdom of the past and the requirement of contributing one's special point of view. Her words beckon us to consider when it is suitable to bring into play the riches of existing knowledge and when it is important to forge our own intellectual paths.