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[fajrdrako]

auriaephiala found a wonderful quote: "Wolfe was frowning at him. "If you please, Mr. Jarrett, no labels. Labels are for the things men make, not for men. The most primitive man is too complex to be labeled." -- Rex Stout, The Father Hunt.

Comments

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

I read the book several times over the years, but the person who actually extracted the quote was Martha Wells.

See http://marthawells.livejournal.com/197030.html

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

When politicians or other nasty types do this, BTW, it's called "demonization". For example, how the Republicans have changed the meaning of "liberal" in the U.S.

It's moving definitions and moving the accepted understanding of "normal".

I dislike it intensely. I think that people should be able to adopt their own labels, but not attach them to others.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Picking our own self-descriptors is important. Changing the meaning of words by implication (especially terms like 'liberal') is both insulting and confusing.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

A double thank you: first for attributing the quote, and second for pointing out Martha's LJ, as I didn't know she had one.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

P.S. I read all the Nero Wolfe books long ago, and no longer remember lines. I do remember how much I enjoyed reading them. I hope they are still in print.

[coalboy.livejournal.com]

Yes. Bantam.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Excellent news!