James AxtellMost of the words we use in history and everyday speech are like mental depth charges. As they descend [through our consciousness] and detonate, their resonant power is unleashed, showering our understanding with fragments of accumulated meaning and association.
About This Quote
The quote says that most words are like depth charges, they are bound to explode in the mind. The common practice of people who use words is to use them in a way that is not necessarily their true meaning. This is true for both common words and uncommon words. The author believes that this happens because people use words that are similar, or that have similar meanings, so they do not pay attention to the essence of the word itself.
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