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About this quote

What does it mean?
Williams mocks how economic crises sound absurd when named after slang.
In plain terms
He jokes that currency nicknames weaken serious news.
What can you take from it?
Language can trivialize serious topics.

Where it applies

  • news report
  • economic talk
  • casual chat

Putting it to work

  • economic communication
  • journalism
  • humor in crisis

Questions to consider

  • Does naming affect seriousness?
  • How do we discuss money?

Another view

Nicknames do not actually change economic reality.

More from Robin Williams

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  3. The professor was on acid, and sometimes, he'd shout, 'I'm Lincoln!' And then, there'd be a kid in the back, 'I'm Booth!'

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