Language is a city to the building of which every human being brought a stone.

Language is a city to the building of which every human being brought a stone.

Fie, fie upon her!
There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip;
Nay, her foot speaks. read more

Fie, fie upon her!
There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip;
Nay, her foot speaks. Her wanton spirits look out
At every joint and motive of her body.

Language is fossil poetry.

Language is fossil poetry.

Our native language is like a second skin, so much a part of us we resist the idea that it read more

Our native language is like a second skin, so much a part of us we resist the idea that it is constantly changing, constantly being renewed.

Don Chaucer. well of English undefyled
On Fame's eternall beadroll worthie to be fyled.

Don Chaucer. well of English undefyled
On Fame's eternall beadroll worthie to be fyled.

Grammar, which knows how to lord it over kings, and with high
hands makes them obey its laws.
read more

Grammar, which knows how to lord it over kings, and with high
hands makes them obey its laws.
[Fr., La grammaire, qui sait regenter jusqu'aux rois,
Et les fait, la main haute, obeir a ses lois.]

The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them

The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them

Language is the roadmap of a culture. It tells you where its people came from and where they are going.

Language is the roadmap of a culture. It tells you where its people came from and where they are going.

The individual's whole experience is built upon the plan of his language.

The individual's whole experience is built upon the plan of his language.