QuoteProject
Names are not always what they seem. The common Welsh name Bzjxxllwcp is pronounced Jackson.
Mark Twain
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Names can be misleading and often do not reflect their pronunciation.

Mark Twain's quote humorously points out the discrepancy between the spelling and pronunciation of names, particularly highlighting an exaggerated and whimsical example from Welsh naming conventions. This suggests that people often make assumptions based on appearances or sounds, which can lead to surprising revelations, much like the peculiar name that is revealed to be quite simple when pronounced correctly.

Themes

NamesPronunciationHumorAssumptionPerception

In practice

Example use cases

Use this quote during a linguistic humor panel discussion.

More from Mark Twain

Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
The easy part of being an artist is figuring out the message that everyone else is ready to hear. The hard part is waiting for the proper lull to make the announcement.
Mark TwainRead
You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns.
Mark TwainRead
To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
Mark TwainRead
Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.
Mark TwainRead
In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.
Mark TwainRead

Similar quotes

The most terrible fear that anybody should have is not war, is not a disease, not cancer or heart problems or food poisoning - it's a man or a woman without a sense of humor.
Jonathan WintersRead
A fit of laughter, which has been indulged to excess, almost always produces a violent reaction.
PlatoRead
The Irish are a fair people: They never speak well of one another.
Samuel JohnsonRead
We do have a zeal for laughter in most situations, give or take a dentist.
Joseph HellerRead
Negative humor is forgotten immediately. It's the stuff that makes us feel better about our lives that lives long. Much more satisfying. Enter children's books.
Berkeley BreathedRead
I recently bought a book of free verse. For twelve dollars.
George CarlinRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.