“No word matters. But man forgets reality and remembers words.”

Source: Lord of Light

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "No word matters. But man forgets reality and remembers words." by Roger Zelazny?

Roger Zelazny112

American speculative fiction writer 1937–1995

Related quotes

“It did not matter, after all. He was only one man. One man’s fate is not important.
“If it is not, what is?”
He could not endure those remembered words.”

Ursula K. Le Guin Hainish Cycle

Source: Hainish Cycle, Rocannon’s World (1966), Chapter 9

“Remember this son, if you forget everything else. A poet is a musician who can’t sing. Words have to find a man’s mind before they can touch his heart. And, some men’s minds are woeful small targets. Music touches their hearts directly, no matter how small or stubborn the mind of the man who listens.”

Patrick Rothfuss book The Name of the Wind

Source: The Name of the Wind (2007), Chapter 14, “The Name of the Wind” (p. 113)

“Men substitute words for reality and then argue about the words.”

Edwin Howard Armstrong (1890–1954) American electrical engineer and inventor

As quoted in "Edwin Armstrong : Pioneer of the Airwaves" by Yannis Tsividis http://www.columbia.edu/cu/alumni/Magazine/Spring2002/Armstrong.html <br class="br">Unsourced variant: Men like to substitute words for reality and then argue about the words.

“It's like forgetting the words to your favorite song
You can't believe it; you were always singing along
It was so easy and the words so sweet
You can't remember; you try to move your feet.”

Regina Spektor (1980) American singer-songwriter and pianist

"Eet"
Far (2009)

“Words are for meaning: when you've got the meaning, you can forget the words.”

Zhuangzi (-369–-286 BC) classic Chinese philosopher

Variant: "Where can I find a man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to."
Context: A trap is for fish: when you've got the fish, you can forget the trap. A snare is for rabbits: when you've got the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words are for meaning: when you've got the meaning, you can forget the words. Where can I find someone who's forgotten words so I can have a word with him?...