None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
A name pronounced is the recognition of the individual to whom it belongs. He who can pronounce my name aright, he can call me, and is entitled to my love and service.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A person's name carries significant personal identity and connection; pronouncing it correctly symbolizes respect and recognition.
This quote emphasizes the importance of a name in establishing an individual's identity and connection with others. When someone takes the effort to pronounce a name correctly, it reflects their acknowledgment of that person's existence and dignity, which in turn fosters mutual respect and an obligation to respond with love and service. Thoreau highlights that names carry emotional weight, and respecting them is crucial for meaningful relationships.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During introductions at a formal event, using someone's name correctly can create a welcoming atmosphere.
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes →Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.
That grand old poem called Winter
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Craving, not having, is the mother of a reckless giving of oneself.
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