Who said “Names, once they are in common use, quickly become mere sounds, their etymology being…”?

Verified

Salman Rushdie. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Satanic Verses (1988)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“Names, once they are in common use, quickly become mere sounds, their etymology being buried, like so many of the earth's marvels, beneath the dust of habit.”
VerifiedThe Satanic Verses (1988) · evidenceNames

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Satanic Verses (1988).

APA

Rushdie, S. (n.d.). Names, once they are in common use, quickly become mere sounds, their etymology being buried, like so many of the earth's marvels, beneath the dust of habit. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17615-names-once-they-are-in-common-use-quickly/

MLA

Rushdie, Salman. “Names, once they are in common use, quickly become mere sounds, their etymology being buried, like so many of the earth's marvels, beneath the dust of habit.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17615-names-once-they-are-in-common-use-quickly/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Rushdie, Salman. “Names, once they are in common use, quickly become mere sounds, their etymology being buried, like so many of the earth's marvels, beneath the dust of habit.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/17615-names-once-they-are-in-common-use-quickly/.