Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Written words take on meaning and life independent of the author's original intent.
- In plain terms
- Once written, words can mean different things to different people.
- What can you take from it?
- Authors lose control over how their written words are interpreted.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Have you seen your words misinterpreted?
- Who owns a message once published?
Another view
Sometimes author intent is preserved through context or clear communication.
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