I don't know what you mean by 'glory,' " Alice said. Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. "Of course you don't-till I tell you. I meant 'there's a nice knock-down argument for you!' " "But 'glory' doesn't mean 'a nice knock-down argument'," Alice objected. "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean-neither more nor less.
In this exchange, Alice questions Humpty Dumpty about the meaning of the word "glory." Humpty Dumpty dismissively claims she doesn't understand and suggests that "glory" could mean a strong argument, which surprises Alice.
Humpty Dumpty explains that he personally dictates the meaning of words he uses, implying that language is flexible and subject to individual interpretation. This reflects his view that words only have the significance that he assigns to them.
