“But I could not for the life of me find out a new name, and therefore offered a nominal prize through Indian Opinion to the reader who made the best suggestion on the subject. As a result Maganlal Gandhi coined the word Sadagraha (Sat: truth, Agraha: firmness) and won the prize. But in order to make it clearer I changed the word to Satyagraha which has since become current in Gujarati as a designation for the struggle.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Gandhi, autobiographical account of coining 'Satyagraha' (Maganlal's 'Sadagraha' via Indian Opinion, South Africa) — cf. 'Satyagraha in South Africa' / the autobiography.
About this quote
The right name gives a cause an identity people can actually rally behind. Notice the method: invite others to suggest, then refine the winner for clarity instead of leaving it rough. A precise word does real work that a vague label never manages, and it's worth the effort to get it exact.
When to use it
- A startup runs a contest for its product name, then sharpens the winning entry so it's easier to say and remember.
- A community group renames its scattered effort with one clear word, and suddenly volunteers grasp what they're joining.
- An author asks readers for a title, then tightens the best suggestion into something that finally sticks in the mind.