The coldest word was once a glowing new metaphor.

The coldest word was once a glowing new metaphor.

You taught me language, and my profit on't
Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you
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You taught me language, and my profit on't
Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you
For learning me your language!

And who in time knows whither we may vent
The treasure of our tongue? To what strange shores
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And who in time knows whither we may vent
The treasure of our tongue? To what strange shores
This gain of our best glory shall be sent,
T' enrich unknowing nations with our stores?
What worlds in th' yet unformed Occident
May come refin'd with th' accents that are ours?

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

Language is a city to the building of which every human being
brought a stone.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson,

No language is rude that can boast polite writers.

No language is rude that can boast polite writers.

Like a diaphanous nightgown, language both hides and reveals.

Like a diaphanous nightgown, language both hides and reveals.

A laudation in Greek is of marvellous efficacy on the title-page
of a book.
[Fr., Une louange en read more

A laudation in Greek is of marvellous efficacy on the title-page
of a book.
[Fr., Une louange en grec est d'une merveilleuse efficace a la
tete d'un livre.]

Language is a process of free creation; its laws and principles are fixed, but the manner in which the principles read more

Language is a process of free creation; its laws and principles are fixed, but the manner in which the principles of generation are used is free and infinitely varied. Even the interpretation and use of words involves a process of free creation.

We defend ourself with descriptions and tame the world by generalizing.

We defend ourself with descriptions and tame the world by generalizing.