The intentions of a tool are what it does. A hammer intends to strike, a vise intends to hold fast, a lever intends to lift. They are what it is made for. But sometimes a tool may have other uses that you don't know. Sometimes in doing what you intend, you also do what the knife intends, without knowing.
by Philip Pullman
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The quote highlights the specific purposes of tools, explaining that each tool has a defined intention based on its design, such as a hammer for striking and a vise for holding items. These intentions guide their primary uses, illustrating how tools are created for particular functions.

However, the quote also points out that tools can have unintended applications, suggesting that while we use them for their intended purposes, we might inadvertently engage in actions that align with the inherent intentions of the tools, such as a knife being used in unforeseen ways. This idea encourages reflection on the duality of actions and tools in our lives.

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February 25, 2025

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