When we engage with a piece of writing, we do not always know the intentions of the author - or perhaps who the author is at all. This isn’t necessarily problematic. In fact, the ambiguity of the authorship or intent may be a source of insight. Take for instance, the common aphorism “The grass is always greener on the other side” or “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” While there is little doubt that we can trace the origins of these aphorisms to historical individuals, I want to argue that the power of these expressions is coupled with the anonymity of the author.