Anyone acquainted with the story in question would know that this line is associated with "Lord Voldemort" (incidentally, did you guys know that "vol de mort" is french for "flight of death"?) whose very name is feared by the majority of the population of the wizarding world. That being said, it may be difficult to understand exactly how one could apply this to the average life of the common Muggle. However, it isn't as hard as you might think!
If you think about it Communication consists of a string of sounds (and/or movements) associated with specific letters that form words that form phrases, those phrases take on several layers of meaning. First is the denotative meaning: what would come out of a dictionary definition. Second is the connotative meaning: What the words MEAN, how they're interpreted.
Due to the heavily emotionalized state of our culture, words often take on meanings far worse (or, occasionally, far better) than their original intention. Take, for example, the word "fine". When asked how one is, if you answer "fine" without any explanation or accompanying words, this is usually taken to mean "I am in a swirling pit of black despair and need psychological help and probably depression meds" or something to that end.
See, we associate certain phrases with emotions, thought processes, and situations, and THIS is where we may find an applicable place in our life for this particular piece of wisdom: Everyone, whether they make it known or not, has insecurities. We're insecure about everything from our weight to our last kill count on multiplayer video games. We're even insecure about our insecurities.
When people bring up a certain aspect of ourselves we're insecure about, we tend to draw inward, either faking a smile, or trying our best not to break down, or both. We come to fear this sort of confrontation, subconsciously at least, and, inadvertently, fear the WORDS associated with them.
For example, my Dad (who I love dearly) often says things like, "good job" when I mess up, and my brother will say "smart one" when he actually means "you f***ing idiot". Over the years, I've come to associate anything similar to these phrases/titles with insult and injury.
In a sense, I fear those words, especially from their original sources.
Guys, when we become afraid of certain words, phrases, titles, even certain glances and postures, because we associate them with something negative, we make our insecurities even worse, because now so many things can trigger them. We make ourselves more vulnerable.
Now, I'm no doctor, and I can't tell you the magic method to remove subconscious associations you probably don't realize exist, but I can tell you this: Remember to always say what you mean. and remember that no matter what anyone says, You are the most talented, most interesting, and most extraordinary person in the universe. And you are capable of amazing things. Because you are the special. And so am I. And so is everyone.
If you think about it Communication consists of a string of sounds (and/or movements) associated with specific letters that form words that form phrases, those phrases take on several layers of meaning. First is the denotative meaning: what would come out of a dictionary definition. Second is the connotative meaning: What the words MEAN, how they're interpreted.
Due to the heavily emotionalized state of our culture, words often take on meanings far worse (or, occasionally, far better) than their original intention. Take, for example, the word "fine". When asked how one is, if you answer "fine" without any explanation or accompanying words, this is usually taken to mean "I am in a swirling pit of black despair and need psychological help and probably depression meds" or something to that end.
See, we associate certain phrases with emotions, thought processes, and situations, and THIS is where we may find an applicable place in our life for this particular piece of wisdom: Everyone, whether they make it known or not, has insecurities. We're insecure about everything from our weight to our last kill count on multiplayer video games. We're even insecure about our insecurities.
When people bring up a certain aspect of ourselves we're insecure about, we tend to draw inward, either faking a smile, or trying our best not to break down, or both. We come to fear this sort of confrontation, subconsciously at least, and, inadvertently, fear the WORDS associated with them.
For example, my Dad (who I love dearly) often says things like, "good job" when I mess up, and my brother will say "smart one" when he actually means "you f***ing idiot". Over the years, I've come to associate anything similar to these phrases/titles with insult and injury.
In a sense, I fear those words, especially from their original sources.
Guys, when we become afraid of certain words, phrases, titles, even certain glances and postures, because we associate them with something negative, we make our insecurities even worse, because now so many things can trigger them. We make ourselves more vulnerable.
Now, I'm no doctor, and I can't tell you the magic method to remove subconscious associations you probably don't realize exist, but I can tell you this: Remember to always say what you mean. and remember that no matter what anyone says, You are the most talented, most interesting, and most extraordinary person in the universe. And you are capable of amazing things. Because you are the special. And so am I. And so is everyone.