Language Quotes | Beyond Motive 4/9

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Language Quotes

"The winged word. The mercurial word. The word that is both moth and lamp. The word that is itself and more. the associative word light with meanings. The word not netted by meaning. The exact word wide. The word not whore nor cenobite. The word unlied."

"The winged word. The mercurial word. The word that is both moth and lamp. The word that is itself and more. the associative word light with meanings. The word not netted by meaning. The exact word wide. The word not whore nor cenobite. The word unlied."

Jeanette Winterson, British Novelist

Language, Meaning, Philosophy, Poetry

20

"I had said no to him and no to him and no to him and no to him and no to him and no to him about his saucy language. It had never gotten to this level until I came back."

"I had said no to him and no to him and no to him and no to him and no to him and no to him about his saucy language. It had never gotten to this level until I came back."

Andrea Mackris, American Celebrity

19

"Language commonly stresses only one side of any interaction."

"Language commonly stresses only one side of any interaction."

Gregory Bateson, British Scientist

19

"Homer's whole language, the language in which he lived, the language that he breathed, because he never saw it, or certainly those who formed his tradition never saw it, in characters on the pages. It was all on the tongue and in the ear."

"Homer's whole language, the language in which he lived, the language that he breathed, because he never saw it, or certainly those who formed his tradition never saw it, in characters on the pages. It was all on the tongue and in the ear."

Robert Fitzgerald, American Author

Language, Tongue, Tradition

19

"If you want to be happy, live discreetly. Does that make sense in English?"

"If you want to be happy, live discreetly. Does that make sense in English?"

Olivier Martinez, French Actor

Language, Sense, Want

19

"Sonnets are guys writing in English, imitating an Italian song form. It was a form definitely sung as often as it was recited."

"Sonnets are guys writing in English, imitating an Italian song form. It was a form definitely sung as often as it was recited."

Steve Earle, American Musician

Language, Song, Writing

19

"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."

"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."

Booker T. Washington, American Educator

Language, English, Unconscious, Vocabulary, Words

19

"The English contribution to world cuisine - the chip."

"The English contribution to world cuisine - the chip."

John Cleese, English Actor

Language, World

19

"Language cares."

"Language cares."

Howard Nemerov, American Poet

19

"I like to play with someone who can cover a lot of ground and someone with whom you can discuss the language at a reasonable level; otherwise it gets a bit frustrating."

"I like to play with someone who can cover a lot of ground and someone with whom you can discuss the language at a reasonable level; otherwise it gets a bit frustrating."

Andy Summers, English Musician

19

"Because Shakespeare's language is so expansive, we're under this misconception that it's difficult. But I discovered that it's easy because it's so brilliantly written. The words are perfect, and the language is intelligent and very emotional."

"Because Shakespeare's language is so expansive, we're under this misconception that it's difficult. But I discovered that it's easy because it's so brilliantly written. The words are perfect, and the language is intelligent and very emotional."

Jessica Lange, American Actress

Language, Shakespeare, Words

19

"Greek was very much a live language, and a language still unconscious of grammar, not, like ours, dominated by definitions and trained upon dictionaries."

"Greek was very much a live language, and a language still unconscious of grammar, not, like ours, dominated by definitions and trained upon dictionaries."

Gilbert Murray, British Diplomat

Language, Grammar, Unconscious

19

"Speech sounds cannot be understood, delimited, classified and explained except in the light of the tasks which they perform in language."

"Speech sounds cannot be understood, delimited, classified and explained except in the light of the tasks which they perform in language."

Roman Jakobson, Russian Scientist

Language, Light, Speech

19

"What's the point of using words nobody knows or can say comfortably?"

"What's the point of using words nobody knows or can say comfortably?"

Stephen Chbosky, American Author

Language, Clarity, Communication, Simplicity

19

"The one overall structure in my plays is language."

"The one overall structure in my plays is language."

Edward Bond, English Playwright

19

"There are some sounds that English singers find quite difficult to manipulate."

"There are some sounds that English singers find quite difficult to manipulate."

Neville Marriner, English Musician

19

"If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers."

"If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers."

Doug Larson, American Cartoonist

Language, Flowers, Sense

19

"Though language forms the preacher, 'Tis good works make the man."

"Though language forms the preacher, 'Tis good works make the man."

Eliza Cook, English Poet

19

"With a very few exceptions, every word in the French vocabulary comes straight from the Latin."

"With a very few exceptions, every word in the French vocabulary comes straight from the Latin."

Lytton Strachey, English Critic

Language, Vocabulary, Word

19

"If you would be pungent, be brief; for it is with words as with sunbeams - the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn."

"If you would be pungent, be brief; for it is with words as with sunbeams - the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn."

Robert Southey, English Poet

Language, Words

18

"No one gets angry at a mathematician or a physicist whom he or she doesn't understand, or at someone who speaks a foreign language, but rather at someone who tampers with your own language."

"No one gets angry at a mathematician or a physicist whom he or she doesn't understand, or at someone who speaks a foreign language, but rather at someone who tampers with your own language."

Jacques Derrida, French Philosopher

18

"Language is a tool adequate to provide any degree of precision relevant to a particular situation."

"Language is a tool adequate to provide any degree of precision relevant to a particular situation."

Kenneth L. Pike, American Sociologist

18

"A new word is like a fresh seed sown on the ground of the discussion."

"A new word is like a fresh seed sown on the ground of the discussion."

Ludwig Wittgenstein, Austrian Philosopher

18

"The form language used by the ancient Egyptians in their structures is minimal."

"The form language used by the ancient Egyptians in their structures is minimal."

Harry Seidler, Australian Architect

18

"Someone's just told me the English are still trying to take over the United States - is that true?"

"Someone's just told me the English are still trying to take over the United States - is that true?"

Steve Guttenberg, American Actor

Language, states, Trying, United

18

"An inability to handle language is not the same thing as stupidity."

"An inability to handle language is not the same thing as stupidity."

David Hare, English Playwright

Language, Stupidity

18

"Now multitudes of root words are identical in the American languages over vast areas some of them with precisely the same senses, and others with various shades of analogical meaning."

"Now multitudes of root words are identical in the American languages over vast areas some of them with precisely the same senses, and others with various shades of analogical meaning."

John W. Dawson, American Politician

Language, Meaning, Now, Senses

18

"I have never designed a language for its own sake."

"I have never designed a language for its own sake."

Niklaus Wirth, Swiss Scientist

18

"As soon as there is language, generality has entered the scen."

"As soon as there is language, generality has entered the scen."

Jacques Derrida, French Philosopher

18

"All I know is that I operate by going out to each of them and trying to learn the territory in which they operate. My language to each of them has to suit their brain."

"All I know is that I operate by going out to each of them and trying to learn the territory in which they operate. My language to each of them has to suit their brain."

Sam Mendes, British Director

Language, Trying

18

"Language is a part of our organism and no less complicated than it."

"Language is a part of our organism and no less complicated than it."

Ludwig Wittgenstein, Austrian Philosopher

18

"Teachers're always using that "in your own words." I hate that. Authors knit their sentences tight. It's their job. Why make us unpick them, just to put it back together more shonkily? How're you s'posed to say Kapellmeister if you can't say Kapellmeister?"

"Teachers're always using that "in your own words." I hate that. Authors knit their sentences tight. It's their job. Why make us unpick them, just to put it back together more shonkily? How're you s'posed to say Kapellmeister if you can't say Kapellmeister?"

David Mitchell, British Novelist

Language, Writing, Word, Education

18

"It was real Cheyenne. I would get the translations the night before, but it was very difficult because it was not like any other language you would be familiar with."

"It was real Cheyenne. I would get the translations the night before, but it was very difficult because it was not like any other language you would be familiar with."

Joe Lando, American Actor

Language, Night

18

"There is abundant proof that the opening of our ports always tends to raise the price of foreign corn to the price in the English market, and not to sink the price of British corn to the price in the continental market."

"There is abundant proof that the opening of our ports always tends to raise the price of foreign corn to the price in the English market, and not to sink the price of British corn to the price in the continental market."

Joseph Hume, Scottish Scientist

Language, Proof

18

"Perhaps the locale of the subjunctive mood willone day be found. Will Latins turn out to be extravagantly endowed and English-speaking peoples significantly short-changed in this minor piece of brain anatomy?"

"Perhaps the locale of the subjunctive mood willone day be found. Will Latins turn out to be extravagantly endowed and English-speaking peoples significantly short-changed in this minor piece of brain anatomy?"

Carl Sagan, American Scientist

Language, Curiosity, Science, Comparison

18

"The Germans and I no longer speak the same language."

"The Germans and I no longer speak the same language."

Marlene Dietrich, American Actress

18

"My language is what I use, and if I lost that, I wouldn't be able to say anything."

"My language is what I use, and if I lost that, I wouldn't be able to say anything."

Howard Hodgkin, British Artist

17

"I sat staring, staring, staring - half lost, learning a new language or rather the same language in a different dialect. So still were the big woods where I sat, sound might not yet have been born."

"I sat staring, staring, staring - half lost, learning a new language or rather the same language in a different dialect. So still were the big woods where I sat, sound might not yet have been born."

Emily Carr, Canadian Artist

Language, Learning, Sound

17

"The language has got to be fully alive - I can't bear dull, flaccid writing myself and I don't see why any reader should put up with it."

"The language has got to be fully alive - I can't bear dull, flaccid writing myself and I don't see why any reader should put up with it."

Helen Dunmore, British Poet

Language, Writing

17

"I know what the structure of the language is."

"I know what the structure of the language is."

Kurt Loder, American Journalist

17

"The language you are about to hear... is disturbing."

"The language you are about to hear... is disturbing."

Dave Chappelle, American Comedian

17

"One of my favorite poets, Neruda, writes close to the bone. Though I know only a little Spanish, I like to compare the Spanish and English lines and see how the translator worked."

"One of my favorite poets, Neruda, writes close to the bone. Though I know only a little Spanish, I like to compare the Spanish and English lines and see how the translator worked."

Anita Diament, American Author

Language, Favorite, Poets

17

"I became aware that all sounds can make meaningful language."

"I became aware that all sounds can make meaningful language."

Karlheinz Stockhausen, German Composer

17

"Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to?"

"Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to?"

Clarence Darrow, American Lawyer

17

"I belong to a specific category of writers, those who speak and write in a language different from that of their parents."

"I belong to a specific category of writers, those who speak and write in a language different from that of their parents."

Tahar Ben Jelloun, French Poet

Language, Parents, Writers

17

"If you have a craftsman's command of the language and basic writing techniques you'll be able to write - as long as you know what you want to say."

"If you have a craftsman's command of the language and basic writing techniques you'll be able to write - as long as you know what you want to say."

Jeffery Deaver, American Writer

Language, Want, Writing

17

"The English like eccentrics. They just don't like them living next door."

"The English like eccentrics. They just don't like them living next door."

Julian Clary, English Comedian

Language, Living

17

"Now, one of the most essential branches of English liberty is the freedom of one's house."

"Now, one of the most essential branches of English liberty is the freedom of one's house."

James Otis, American Lawyer

Language, Freedom, Liberty, Now

17

"My early influences were the Shadows, who were an English instrumental band. They basically got me into playing and later on I got into blues and jazz players. I liked Clapton when he was with John Mayall. I really liked that period."

"My early influences were the Shadows, who were an English instrumental band. They basically got me into playing and later on I got into blues and jazz players. I liked Clapton when he was with John Mayall. I really liked that period."

Tony Iommi, English Musician

Language, Jazz, Shadows

17

"There was a whole language that I could never make function for myself in relationship to painting and that was attitudes like tortured, struggle, pain."

"There was a whole language that I could never make function for myself in relationship to painting and that was attitudes like tortured, struggle, pain."

Robert Rauschenberg, American Artist

Language, Pain, Painting, Struggle

17

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