The following idea is from Walking, by Henry David Thoreau, published in 1862. It is quite an interesting book extolling the benefits of nature and walking. Read my mini-review and overall impressions.
At present our only true names are nicknames. I knew a boy who, from his peculiar energy, was called "Buster" by his playmates, and this rightly supplanted his Christian name. Some travelers tell us that an Indian had no name given him at first, but earned it, and his name was his fame; and among some tribes he acquired a new name with every new exploit. It is pitiful when a man bears a name for convenience merely, who has earned neither name nor fame.
How true this is. What is the deal with our names? They tell us absolutely nothing about the man to which they are attached, except maybe a hint of the culture or religion he belongs to. And even that association is tenuous: many of us in the U.S. have names from the Hebrew and Christian bibles, but we have long since shed our devotion to those religions.
It seems we have these names merely as an arbitrary method of distinguishing ourselves. Why not a number? A nickname at least tells you something.
What Next?
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Read Walking Online for Free
At present our only true names are nicknames. I knew a boy who, from his peculiar energy, was called "Buster" by his playmates, and this rightly supplanted his Christian name. Some travelers tell us that an Indian had no name given him at first, but earned it, and his name was his fame; and among some tribes he acquired a new name with every new exploit. It is pitiful when a man bears a name for convenience merely, who has earned neither name nor fame.How true this is. What is the deal with our names? They tell us absolutely nothing about the man to which they are attached, except maybe a hint of the culture or religion he belongs to. And even that association is tenuous: many of us in the U.S. have names from the Hebrew and Christian bibles, but we have long since shed our devotion to those religions.
It seems we have these names merely as an arbitrary method of distinguishing ourselves. Why not a number? A nickname at least tells you something.
What Next?
See more ideas from Henry David Thoreau
See more ideas from Walking
Read Walking Online for Free
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