What does paperwork mean in this sentence?












1















“What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork.”
—Pearl Bailey (United States singer 1918-1990)



One teacher said, “paperwork” in this sentence meant “marriage certificate”. But I’m not sure about it.



I checked on dictionaries and find that the word means “routine work involving documents such as forms, records, or letters”. To my understanding, it doesn’t necessarily mean “marriage certificate”.



I searched on internet, but can’t find a certain answer. Therefore I put this question here.



Does it mean marriage certificate in this sentence? If not what does it mean?



Thanks in advance!









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  • And why would the dictionary answer not work? It works fine. Of course, it does not mean marriage certificate per se. It means all the stuff we all do in our lives and work that is "routine work involving" etc.

    – Lambie
    3 hours ago
















1















“What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork.”
—Pearl Bailey (United States singer 1918-1990)



One teacher said, “paperwork” in this sentence meant “marriage certificate”. But I’m not sure about it.



I checked on dictionaries and find that the word means “routine work involving documents such as forms, records, or letters”. To my understanding, it doesn’t necessarily mean “marriage certificate”.



I searched on internet, but can’t find a certain answer. Therefore I put this question here.



Does it mean marriage certificate in this sentence? If not what does it mean?



Thanks in advance!









share







New contributor




user73344 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





















  • And why would the dictionary answer not work? It works fine. Of course, it does not mean marriage certificate per se. It means all the stuff we all do in our lives and work that is "routine work involving" etc.

    – Lambie
    3 hours ago














1












1








1








“What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork.”
—Pearl Bailey (United States singer 1918-1990)



One teacher said, “paperwork” in this sentence meant “marriage certificate”. But I’m not sure about it.



I checked on dictionaries and find that the word means “routine work involving documents such as forms, records, or letters”. To my understanding, it doesn’t necessarily mean “marriage certificate”.



I searched on internet, but can’t find a certain answer. Therefore I put this question here.



Does it mean marriage certificate in this sentence? If not what does it mean?



Thanks in advance!









share







New contributor




user73344 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












“What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork.”
—Pearl Bailey (United States singer 1918-1990)



One teacher said, “paperwork” in this sentence meant “marriage certificate”. But I’m not sure about it.



I checked on dictionaries and find that the word means “routine work involving documents such as forms, records, or letters”. To my understanding, it doesn’t necessarily mean “marriage certificate”.



I searched on internet, but can’t find a certain answer. Therefore I put this question here.



Does it mean marriage certificate in this sentence? If not what does it mean?



Thanks in advance!







meaning





share







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user73344 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • And why would the dictionary answer not work? It works fine. Of course, it does not mean marriage certificate per se. It means all the stuff we all do in our lives and work that is "routine work involving" etc.

    – Lambie
    3 hours ago



















  • And why would the dictionary answer not work? It works fine. Of course, it does not mean marriage certificate per se. It means all the stuff we all do in our lives and work that is "routine work involving" etc.

    – Lambie
    3 hours ago

















And why would the dictionary answer not work? It works fine. Of course, it does not mean marriage certificate per se. It means all the stuff we all do in our lives and work that is "routine work involving" etc.

– Lambie
3 hours ago





And why would the dictionary answer not work? It works fine. Of course, it does not mean marriage certificate per se. It means all the stuff we all do in our lives and work that is "routine work involving" etc.

– Lambie
3 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















3














You need context to be entirely sure. I haven't been able to find the context in which Pearl Bailey said this quote.



On its own, the sentence is not inherently about marriage, and paperwork does not literally ever mean 'a marriage certificate'.



However, it could be using 'paperwork' as a metaphor for the act and state of marriage.




What the world needs is for people to worry more about whether people love each other than the details of whether they are legally married.







share|improve this answer
























  • Not sure why this was downvoted. Care to explain?

    – fred2
    3 hours ago











  • I would add: "marriage certificate" is sometimes called "paper(s)", as in: "it is not papers that keep us together". So, even without a broader context available, marriage was not intended to be implied. "Paperwork" is about bureaucracy, not about a document. +1

    – virolino
    27 mins ago





















0














You may refer to this link for more details on the quote.




https://philosiblog.com/2012/02/28/what-the-world-really-needs-is-more-love-and-less-paper-work/




Since you're specifically asking about the word paperwork, I'd agree with fred2. It really depends on the context. However, the word generally means something like documents, reports, etc. It could be an official document or a book report.



At the start of the quote is "What the world really needs". This suggests that "love" in this context does not mean romantic love between two people, but rather a warm and helpful kind of love, like the love between you and your parents.






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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    3














    You need context to be entirely sure. I haven't been able to find the context in which Pearl Bailey said this quote.



    On its own, the sentence is not inherently about marriage, and paperwork does not literally ever mean 'a marriage certificate'.



    However, it could be using 'paperwork' as a metaphor for the act and state of marriage.




    What the world needs is for people to worry more about whether people love each other than the details of whether they are legally married.







    share|improve this answer
























    • Not sure why this was downvoted. Care to explain?

      – fred2
      3 hours ago











    • I would add: "marriage certificate" is sometimes called "paper(s)", as in: "it is not papers that keep us together". So, even without a broader context available, marriage was not intended to be implied. "Paperwork" is about bureaucracy, not about a document. +1

      – virolino
      27 mins ago


















    3














    You need context to be entirely sure. I haven't been able to find the context in which Pearl Bailey said this quote.



    On its own, the sentence is not inherently about marriage, and paperwork does not literally ever mean 'a marriage certificate'.



    However, it could be using 'paperwork' as a metaphor for the act and state of marriage.




    What the world needs is for people to worry more about whether people love each other than the details of whether they are legally married.







    share|improve this answer
























    • Not sure why this was downvoted. Care to explain?

      – fred2
      3 hours ago











    • I would add: "marriage certificate" is sometimes called "paper(s)", as in: "it is not papers that keep us together". So, even without a broader context available, marriage was not intended to be implied. "Paperwork" is about bureaucracy, not about a document. +1

      – virolino
      27 mins ago
















    3












    3








    3







    You need context to be entirely sure. I haven't been able to find the context in which Pearl Bailey said this quote.



    On its own, the sentence is not inherently about marriage, and paperwork does not literally ever mean 'a marriage certificate'.



    However, it could be using 'paperwork' as a metaphor for the act and state of marriage.




    What the world needs is for people to worry more about whether people love each other than the details of whether they are legally married.







    share|improve this answer













    You need context to be entirely sure. I haven't been able to find the context in which Pearl Bailey said this quote.



    On its own, the sentence is not inherently about marriage, and paperwork does not literally ever mean 'a marriage certificate'.



    However, it could be using 'paperwork' as a metaphor for the act and state of marriage.




    What the world needs is for people to worry more about whether people love each other than the details of whether they are legally married.








    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 3 hours ago









    fred2fred2

    1,065510




    1,065510













    • Not sure why this was downvoted. Care to explain?

      – fred2
      3 hours ago











    • I would add: "marriage certificate" is sometimes called "paper(s)", as in: "it is not papers that keep us together". So, even without a broader context available, marriage was not intended to be implied. "Paperwork" is about bureaucracy, not about a document. +1

      – virolino
      27 mins ago





















    • Not sure why this was downvoted. Care to explain?

      – fred2
      3 hours ago











    • I would add: "marriage certificate" is sometimes called "paper(s)", as in: "it is not papers that keep us together". So, even without a broader context available, marriage was not intended to be implied. "Paperwork" is about bureaucracy, not about a document. +1

      – virolino
      27 mins ago



















    Not sure why this was downvoted. Care to explain?

    – fred2
    3 hours ago





    Not sure why this was downvoted. Care to explain?

    – fred2
    3 hours ago













    I would add: "marriage certificate" is sometimes called "paper(s)", as in: "it is not papers that keep us together". So, even without a broader context available, marriage was not intended to be implied. "Paperwork" is about bureaucracy, not about a document. +1

    – virolino
    27 mins ago







    I would add: "marriage certificate" is sometimes called "paper(s)", as in: "it is not papers that keep us together". So, even without a broader context available, marriage was not intended to be implied. "Paperwork" is about bureaucracy, not about a document. +1

    – virolino
    27 mins ago















    0














    You may refer to this link for more details on the quote.




    https://philosiblog.com/2012/02/28/what-the-world-really-needs-is-more-love-and-less-paper-work/




    Since you're specifically asking about the word paperwork, I'd agree with fred2. It really depends on the context. However, the word generally means something like documents, reports, etc. It could be an official document or a book report.



    At the start of the quote is "What the world really needs". This suggests that "love" in this context does not mean romantic love between two people, but rather a warm and helpful kind of love, like the love between you and your parents.






    share|improve this answer




























      0














      You may refer to this link for more details on the quote.




      https://philosiblog.com/2012/02/28/what-the-world-really-needs-is-more-love-and-less-paper-work/




      Since you're specifically asking about the word paperwork, I'd agree with fred2. It really depends on the context. However, the word generally means something like documents, reports, etc. It could be an official document or a book report.



      At the start of the quote is "What the world really needs". This suggests that "love" in this context does not mean romantic love between two people, but rather a warm and helpful kind of love, like the love between you and your parents.






      share|improve this answer


























        0












        0








        0







        You may refer to this link for more details on the quote.




        https://philosiblog.com/2012/02/28/what-the-world-really-needs-is-more-love-and-less-paper-work/




        Since you're specifically asking about the word paperwork, I'd agree with fred2. It really depends on the context. However, the word generally means something like documents, reports, etc. It could be an official document or a book report.



        At the start of the quote is "What the world really needs". This suggests that "love" in this context does not mean romantic love between two people, but rather a warm and helpful kind of love, like the love between you and your parents.






        share|improve this answer













        You may refer to this link for more details on the quote.




        https://philosiblog.com/2012/02/28/what-the-world-really-needs-is-more-love-and-less-paper-work/




        Since you're specifically asking about the word paperwork, I'd agree with fred2. It really depends on the context. However, the word generally means something like documents, reports, etc. It could be an official document or a book report.



        At the start of the quote is "What the world really needs". This suggests that "love" in this context does not mean romantic love between two people, but rather a warm and helpful kind of love, like the love between you and your parents.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 3 hours ago









        PuffyPuffy

        5077




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