"Words are more treacherous and powerful than we think"
- Jean-Paul Sartre
About this Quote
"Words are more treacherous and powerful than we think" is a quote by Jean-Paul Sartre, a French thinker, playwright, and novelist understood for his considerable contributions to existentialism and phenomenology.
In this quote, Sartre highlights the often undervalued power and prospective threat of words. He recommends that words can have a far-reaching impact, both in terms of shaping ideas and influencing individuals's actions and emotions.
Interpreting this quote, we can comprehend that Sartre is highlighting the double-edged nature of language. On one hand, words possess the power to motivate, inform, and foster understanding. On the other hand, they can be used to trick, control, and harm. Words can be "treacherous" in the sense that they can communicate false or deceptive info, or be utilized to misrepresent the intentions or beliefs of the speaker.
Furthermore, Sartre's quote also discuss the intrinsic subjectivity and uncertainty of language. The significance of words can be analyzed in various methods, depending on the context and the point of views of both the speaker and the listener. This inherent uncertainty can result in misconceptions, misinterpretations, and even conflict.
In summary, Jean-Paul Sartre's quote "Words are more treacherous and effective than we think" underscores the substantial effect and prospective dangers of language. Words hold the power to shape ideas, affect actions, and stimulate feelings, but they can also be used to trick and manipulate. Sartre's quote works as a pointer to approach language with care and know its complexities and prospective repercussions.
"Developments in information technology and globalised media mean that the most powerful military in the history of the world can lose a war, not on the battlefield of dust and blood, but on the battlefield of world opinion"
"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded"