“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose,
By any other name would smell as sweet.” (Romeo and Juliet act 2, sc. 2)
Tips for Use. Put a stop to debates about controversial definitions, names, or time-consuming arguments about choosing one name versus another – if in your view the name is irrelevant. In a presentation, define an issue with the name you prefer and maybe quote names used by others, concluding that they mean the same thing and add the quote , e.g. “….. after all what’s in a name?…sweet.” Sometimes people like to give odd names, different from the original to the objects of their affection. In a 1787 letter to Agnes Maclehose, the poet Robert Burns addresses her as with the name of ‘Clarinda’ and extols the virtue of blending love and friendship, ‘Such a composition is like adding cream to strawberries; it not only gives the fruit a more elegant richness, but has a peculiar deliciousness of its own… You cannot imagine, Clarinda (I like the idea of Arcadian names in a commerce of this kind) how much store I have set by the hopes of your future friendship….” We do not happen to know whether Agnes liked the name-switch or how well the relationship with Burns blossomed.
To receive an (almost) daily copy of the latest blog and Shakespearean verbal ‘weapon’ subscribe for free to this site (click on the top-right link on the menu).
And I promise, no sales calls, trade leads, venomous schemes, hidden plots, Machiavellian conspiracies, commercial ploys, psychological tricks, leads exchanges, barter proposals, suggestions or offers of any kind imaginable (and unimaginable).
Of course, if you acquire the book “Your Daily Shakespeare” (click on “The book” in the menu), you will not only enjoy it but you will find it very useful. The quote in this post and more than ten thousand others will lead you to find the words that perfectly strengthen your argument(s). After all Shakespeare wrote them, I simply extracted, structured and compiled them so as to make Shakespeare both useful in your life endeavors and very “user friendly” as they say. And if you wish I will even sign the book. But this is the extreme extent of any “sales” effort, call or solicitation.
In the Play. Unbeknown to Juliet, Romeo, after sneaking into her garden, listens to her monologue in which she muses about Romeo’s last name, Montague. The Montagues are mortal enemies of her family, the Capulets, but her conclusion is “Who cares?”
Image source: http://www.rose-wallpapers.com/