“The Sanskrit language, whatever be its antiquity, is of a wonderful structure; more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either.”
What this quote means
William Jones, a pioneer of Oriental studies, marvels at the Sanskrit language's intricate beauty, claiming it surpasses Greek and Latin in refinement. This praise underscores the value of linguistic diversity and challenges Eurocentric views. It reminds us that every language embodies a unique worldview and that ancient tongues hold profound wisdom. In our globalized age, it urges us to preserve and study lesser-known languages.
How to apply it daily
Learn a few phrases in an ancient or endangered language, or read a translated text to appreciate its structure and poetry.
Continue
Related quotes
Same author or same theme — keep reading.
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”Create visual
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”Create visual
“There is no friend as loyal as a book.”Create visual
“The only demand I make of my reader is that he should devote his whole life to reading my works.”Create visual
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”Create visual
“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book!”Create visual