Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
The word itself only matters to those pretending to be educated, suggesting the term is a tool of pretension.
In plain terms
Only people trying to look smart care about this word.
What can you take from it?
Don't let jargon intimidate you.

Where it applies

  • classroom
  • professional settings
  • literary critique

Putting it to work

  • ignore jargon
  • ask for meaning
  • value clarity

Questions to consider

  • What words do you fake knowing?
  • Who defines education?

Another view

It dismisses the utility of specialized terminology.

More from Orson Scott Card

  1. Even step - she knew that she didn't really know him, that always there was the chance that someday he would surprise her, that she would turn to face her husb…

    Permalink to quote #678
  2. It was a terrible thing to know about himself, that he could feel such lust to punish a submissive enemy

    Permalink to quote #680
  3. She watched him go into the building. He as striding boldly, almost jauntily. She liked the look of him, always had. He exuded confidence without ever looking …

    Permalink to quote #677

Related quotes

  1. Kenneth: If you're so hot, you'd better tell me how to say she has ideas above her station. Brian: Oh, yes, I forgot. It's fairly easy, old boy. Elle a des ide…

    Terence RattiganTerence Rattigan quote #1
  2. She taught us Hygiene. And you know what that meant: s-x, pr-cr-ation and p-r--ds.

    Maureen LipmanMaureen Lipman quote #2
  3. One sometimes gets the impression that those intimidating words are there to keep us from understanding. That way, the scholars can appear Superior, and will n…

    Benjamin HoffBenjamin Hoff quote #2