“For the real writer, life does more than accept or resemble language; it coughs up words like gobs of bloody spit, suggests them, insists, and every one is more historical than history, deep beyond diving, wide beyond reach.” — William H. Gass, “Quotations from Chairman Flaubert,” from Tests of Time
There’s a word for that
Published inLit & Crit
Yes, there are some words that insist on their relevance. They attach themselves to a person or event or idea, and refuse to budge.