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Words are such uncertain things, they so often sound well but mean the opposite of what one thinks they do.
Agatha Christie
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Words can be misleading, often conveying meanings contrary to what we intend.

This quote highlights the often deceptive nature of language, where words might sound pleasant or appropriate but can carry meanings that are vastly different from the speaker's intentions. Agatha Christie suggests that communication is fraught with ambiguity and uncertainty, encouraging a deeper consideration of the words we choose and their potential interpretations.

Themes

WordsCommunicationMeaningMisunderstandingLanguage

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about effective communication, this quote can highlight the importance of clarity.

More from Agatha Christie

Poirot," I said. "I have been thinking." "An admirable exercise my friend. Continue it.
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Best of an island is once you get there - you can't go any farther...you've come to the end of things.
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Where large sums of money are concerned, it is advisable to trust nobody.
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I have wanted . . . to commit a murder myself. I recognized this as the desire of the artist to express himself! . . . But-incongruous as it may seem to some-I was restrained and hampered by my innate sense of justice. The innocent must not suffer.
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Sitting here with one's knitting, one just sees the facts. -"The Blood-Stained Pavement
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No, my friend, I am not drunk. I have just been to the dentist, and need not return for another six months! Is it not the most beautiful thought? --Poirot
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