If it be looked on as an instance of a prodigious memory, that some generals have been able to call every soldier in their army by his proper name, we may easily find a reason why men have never attempted to give names to each sheep in their flock, or crow that flies over their heads; much less to call every leaf of plants, or grain of sand that came in their way, by a peculiar name.
Beren armadako soldadu guztiak banan-banan izenez ezagutzen dituzten jeneralak oroimen miragarriko kasu moduan aipatzen direla gogan izanez gero, erraz ulertuko dugu gizakiek sekula ez saiatu izana euren artaldeetako ardi bakoitzari, ez eta euren buru gainean hegaz dabiltzan erroietako bakoitzari izena jartzen, eta askoz gutxiago, ikusitako landare-orri bakoitzari edo hare-ale bakoitzari izen partikular bat ematen.