"'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.'"
- Lewis Carroll
About this Quote
This quote from Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass" is a reflection of Humpty Dumpty's conceit and disregard for the guidelines of language. He is suggesting that he is the supreme authority on the meaning of words, which he can pick to interpret them nevertheless he pleases. This is a tip that language is a powerful tool, and that it can be used to control and control. It likewise functions as a caution that words can be utilized to deceive and misinform, and that we ought to beware to think about the context and intent of the speaker prior to accepting their interpretation. Humpty Dumpty's mindset is a suggestion that language is a living, ever-changing thing, and that we must bear in mind how we utilize it.
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