Happier with Gretchen Rubin A Little Happier: A Few Extra Words from Winston Churchill Make a Big Difference
Dec 22, 2025
Accurate quoting can change everything! Discover how Winston Churchill's full quote about perseverance offers deeper wisdom. Learn why information is paradoxically both free and expensive from Stewart Brand’s insights. Small additions to famous quotes can drastically alter their meanings, highlighting the importance of context. Gretchen shares personal preferences on quotations and how they should remain true to their original intent. Tune in for a delightful reflection on the power of words!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Quote Carefully To Preserve Meaning
- When copying quotations, mark edits and reread the original to avoid distorting meaning.
- Accurately include qualifying phrases because small additions can change a quote's intent dramatically.
Small Words Can Shift Big Messages
- Partial quotations can reverse or soften an author's intended message.
- Winston Churchill's fuller line adds a major qualification that alters the celebrated slogan.
Balanced Views Hide Behind Catchphrases
- Popular aphorisms often omit balancing clauses that change their meaning.
- Stuart Brand paired "information wants to be free" with the opposing idea that information also wants to be expensive.