The English have no respect for their language, and will not teach their children to speak it.

The English have no respect for their language, and will not teach their children to speak it.

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.]

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.

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

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

The accent of one's country dwells in the mind and in the heart
as much as in the language.
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The accent of one's country dwells in the mind and in the heart
as much as in the language.
[Fr., L'accent du pays ou l'on est ne demeure dans l'esprit et
dans le coeur comme dans le langage.]

Male supremacy is fused into the language, so that every sentence both heralds and affirms it.

Male supremacy is fused into the language, so that every sentence both heralds and affirms it.

I can remember the lush spring excitement of language in childhood. Sitting in church, rolling it around my mouth like read more

I can remember the lush spring excitement of language in childhood. Sitting in church, rolling it around my mouth like marbles--tabernacle and pharisee and parable, tresspass and Babylon and covenant.

Thanks to words, we have been able to rise above the brutes; and thanks to words, we have often sunk read more

Thanks to words, we have been able to rise above the brutes; and thanks to words, we have often sunk to the level of the demons.

I am the King of Rome, and above grammar.
[Lat., Ego sum rex Romanus, et supra grammaticam.]

I am the King of Rome, and above grammar.
[Lat., Ego sum rex Romanus, et supra grammaticam.]