It Takes All Kinds of People To Make the World Go ’Round

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, my name is Mihaela calling from San Diego.

And I had a question for you about a phrase that I really like, that’s, it takes all kinds.

So my husband and I were talking about this phrase recently, and I was talking about somebody who was, I don’t know, a lovely weirdo or something like that.

And I said, it takes all kinds.

And we realized that we had a different understanding of what that meant.

And the way I understand it to be is it takes all kinds, meaning the world requires all different kinds of people to function the way it’s supposed to.

And he was thinking it meant it takes all kinds, meaning the world accepts all kinds of different people.

And it seems like a fairly subtle difference, but kind of philosophically different in that, like, does the world need a diversity of people or is it just accepting a diversity of people?

So I wanted to hear what you folks think about it.

Oh, that’s a great question here.

And you use this in your day-to-day life?

It does seem to come up fairly often.

Maybe it’s just the people I hang out with.

You know a lot of weirdos, a lot of lovely weirdos.

She’s calling us.

Well, let me make sure I get this straight.

So your husband thinks that it takes all kinds means that the it refers to the world and the world accepts all kinds.

Am I understanding that correctly?

I think it’s a different meaning of takes.

That’s such a word that means some of the different things in different contexts.

But takes as in accepts versus takes as in requires.

Oh, boy.

Does that make sense?

Sure.

Yeah.

I think I have to go with, well, we have historical information on this, which is why I’m 100% sure that the requires meaning is the more appropriate one.

Oh, lovely.

But I can see the other reading as being valuable in terms of the acceptance of the world for whatever kind of puzzle piece you are, you’re going to fit into the larger puzzle of life and the world and the universe.

So I really like his interpretation.

I love the positivity in that.

I do too.

Yeah, I feel like both of them are pretty good.

And they’re close in meaning.

This idea has been around for a long time.

I’m thinking of a translation of Cervantes that goes, in the world there must be all sorts.

Yeah, many transformations of this idea and expression over the years.

Samuel Johnson wrote in the 1700s, the world has people of all sorts.

So it’s just talking about all are present.

No idea, no concept of require or accept.

But yeah, I think both meanings are valid, but yours has the weight of history behind it.

Oh, so satisfying.

Was there something on the line?

You know we always ask.

Yeah, well, usually my standard bet is a burrito bet, being a good Californian.

Oh, nice.

But I’m not sure that we actually formalized that on this one.

So I think we’ll all just have to get burritos to celebrate.

Yay!

Yeah, you’ll have to take us to your favorite place.

Well, Mahala, we appreciate your call.

Let us know about future language arguments.

We’re here to help.

Thank you so much.

I really appreciate it.

Great talking to you.

All right, take care of yourself.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Thanks.

Yeah, Grant, it’s a really good question.

And the more I think about it, the more I think that the implication there in it takes all kinds is that we wouldn’t have this world if we didn’t have all kinds.

You know, it just wouldn’t be the same.

Yeah.

Can you imagine a monoculture of people just like me or just like you?

Or just like me.

I don’t want to live in that world.

I’m sick of myself.

Bring me variety, diversity, complexity.

That’s what I want in my world.

And bring us your questions about language, words@waywordradio.org, or call us 877-929-9673.