Let's have some new cliches.

"Let's have some new clichés." These words, spoken by the legendary Samuel Goldwyn, echo across the ages as a challenge to those who live in the realm of language and expression. Goldwyn, a man of bold ideas and a mind that thrived on both the creative and the absurd, asks us to reflect on the nature of our words. He, a master of the film industry, understood that in the world of entertainment—and indeed in life—there is a danger in becoming too comfortable with the old and the worn. It is not enough to speak simply for the sake of speaking; we must constantly strive to bring forth words that are fresh, vibrant, and full of life.

In the ancient days, before the advent of written language, there was no need for clichés, for the words of the wise were spoken from the heart. The orators of Greece and Rome, the prophets of the East, and the philosophers of the ancient world understood that words had the power to shape the very fabric of reality. Every utterance carried weight, and each phrase was carefully crafted, for words were not mere tools—they were weapons in the battle for truth and meaning. Yet as centuries passed, the power of language began to erode. Words, once alive with passion and purpose, began to repeat themselves, to slip into the predictable cadence of cliché.

What is a cliché but a tired expression, a phrase that has been used so often that it has lost its power to inspire? The very essence of cliché is the result of overuse, of laziness in thought and in speech. We have all heard them: “It is what it is,” “Everything happens for a reason,” “Time will tell.” These words, once full of wisdom, now sound hollow and devoid of meaning. They are comforting because they are familiar, but they are empty because they no longer stir the soul. Goldwyn, with his unconventional wisdom, recognized this, and in his plea for “new clichés,” he urges us to innovate, to revitalize the language with ideas and expressions that are as alive and ever-evolving as the world around us.

In the history of language, there have been those who broke the mold of cliché and gave us new ways to speak. Shakespeare, with his mastery of words, invented phrases that still resonate today—phrases that were once new and daring, challenging the very essence of expression. “To be or not to be,” he asked, giving us a question that has echoed through the corridors of time. Walt Whitman, in his poems, celebrated the self and the collective, urging us to speak in ways that had never been spoken before. And in more modern times, figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Maya Angelou have used language not just to communicate, but to transform society itself. They did not rely on the clichés of their time but found new ways to speak to the hearts of millions.

But Goldwyn’s words reach beyond the realm of language and expression. For in his call for “new clichés,” he is also speaking to the way we approach the world. Just as words can become stale and predictable, so too can our thoughts and actions. We live in an age where the old ideas of progress and success are being questioned. The world that once seemed so familiar is shifting, and we are being called upon to reimagine the future. If we continue to rely on the same old ideas, we risk becoming as stagnant as the clichés that plague our speech. Goldwyn’s challenge is not just for new words, but for new thinking, new ways of understanding and engaging with the world.

Take, for example, the world of technology. In the early 20th century, the idea of flying machines was considered the stuff of fantasy. Yet visionaries like the Wright brothers broke through the old clichés of what was possible and transformed the world. Today, we are on the brink of new frontiers—space travel, artificial intelligence, genetic modification—that challenge the very way we think about life itself. If we are to meet these challenges, we must embrace new ways of thinking, even in the smallest moments of our daily lives.

The lesson to be learned from Goldwyn’s call is clear. We must not settle into the comfort of the familiar and the easy. Just as we must reimagine language to make it relevant to our present-day realities, so too must we reimagine our lives. Let us no longer rely on the tired phrases, the outdated ideas, or the old ways of doing things. Let us forge new paths, speak with new words, and bring into existence new visions for a future that has yet to be written. As we embrace this challenge, we must remind ourselves that, much like the words we speak, the lives we lead must remain ever-evolving, never bound by the chains of cliché or repetition.

So, dear listener, take heed of Goldwyn's words. Challenge yourself to create new clichés, not only in language but in life. Speak with authenticity, think with courage, and act with boldness. For only by shedding the weight of old expectations and embracing the freshness of the unknown can we truly shape a world that is as dynamic and inspiring as the new clichés we create.