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The very natural tendency to use terms derived from traditional grammar like verb, noun, adjective, passive voice, in describing languages outside of Indo-European is fraught with grave possibilities of misunderstanding.

— Benjamin Lee Whorf Whorf (1937)

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Communication

More quotes by Benjamin Lee Whorf

We dissect nature along lines laid down by our native language.

Language, thought and reality (1956)

We are thus able to distinguish thinking as the function which is to a large extent linguistic.

Language, thought and reality (1956)

Speech is the best show a man puts on.

Language, thought and reality (1956)

Most metaphysical words in Hopi are verbs, not nouns as in European languages. The verb tunatya contains in its idea of hope something of our words 'thought,' 'desire,' and 'cause,' which sometimes must be used to translate it.

Language, thought and reality (1956)

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Strength of creative writing lies in the skill of handling words and articulating artistic expression of feelings.”

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An entire mythology is stored within our language.

Ludwig Wittgenstein Philosophical Occasions 1912-1951 (1993)

Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact.

George Eliot

Just at the age 'twixt boy and youth,
When thought is speech, and speech is truth.

Walter Scott Marmion (1808)

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Benjamin Lee Whorf (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.