The process of writing has something infinite about it. Even though it is interrupted each night, it is one single notation.
Elias CanettiRead
There is no such thing as an ugly language. Today I hear every language as if it were the only one, and when I hear of one that is dying, it overwhelms me as though it were the death of the earth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The beauty of a language is perceived when one understands its cultural significance, and the loss of any language is a profound loss to humanity.
Elias Canetti emphasizes the intrinsic beauty of all languages, suggesting that each one holds unique cultural and emotional value. He expresses a deep emotional response to the thought of languages becoming extinct, highlighting that losing a language is akin to a loss that affects the very essence of humanity and our connection to diverse cultures.
Themes
LanguageBeautyCultureLossEmpathy
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about cultural diversity, one might quote Canetti to emphasize the importance of preserving endangered languages.
More from Elias Canetti
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People's fates are simplified by their names.
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Everything one records contains a grain of hope, no matter how deeply it may come from despair.
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The profoundest thoughts of the philosophers have something trickle about them. A lot disappears in order for something to suddenly appear in the palm of the hand.
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Travelling, one accepts everything; indignation stays at home. One looks, one listens, one is roused to enthusiasm by the most dreadful things because they are new. Good travellers are heartless.
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