Hate is a strong word. In fact, one of my favourite aphorisms of Graham Greene (taken from his astonishing The Power and the Glory) is that “Hate was just a failure of the imagination.” It is precisely because we are all such conflicted and complex people that the hatred of individuals is such a blight – there are always extenuating circumstances (even if they are not sufficient to justify actions).
However, there are times when hate is appropriate and indeed necessary. For as is often observed (and needs to be reiterated in these supposedly tolerant days), hatred is not the opposite of love: indifference is. So here are 5 words I detest the most (today, at least – things always change). Hopefully you’ll understand why, but even if you don’t, have a chew on them for a while!
5 Detested Words
- Betrayal
- Bus Replacement Service
- Strategic
- Collateral Damage
- Depression
Lest this become a doom-merchant’s indulgence, here are 5 words I just love:
5 Loved Words
- Serendipity
- Grace
- Mellifluous
- Free upgrade
- Advocate
So there’s a first stab. Expect more 5-a-day as and when.
What would yours be?
Images taken from Chris Creagh’s collection of Oxford Gargoyles
This Post Has 4 Comments
I detest the words: porn • leveraging • decadent • market economy • troika
I love the words: so • soon • ado • countermand • …and can I have a whole class of words? adverbs ‘composed’ of several words: they sound amusing, even if their meaning is sometimes obscure (e.g. heretofore, erstwhile, hitherto, whereas, outside, forthwith, hereafter, moreover, nevertheless)
🙂
great lists… perhaps you need to add ‘peradventure’ to your second!
Perchance I should! Nay—perforce! 😀
Would it be a general disliking of how Troika sounds? because it does sound grating! or would it be a specific contextual meaning?