Quotation by

Marcel Proust

Words do not change their meanings so drastically in the course of centuries as, in our minds, names do in the course of a year or two.

Marcel Proust

Change

Understanding this quote AI Analysis

Marcel Proust is saying that the meanings of words remain relatively stable over long periods, while the feelings and associations we have with people's names can shift dramatically in a short time. This highlights how personal experiences and emotions quickly alter our perception of individuals, unlike the steady evolution of language.

More by this author

All quotes by Marcel Proust →

More quotes about Change

See all →

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is b…

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has…