Language is an anonymous, collective and unconscious art; the result of the creativity of thousands of generations.

It would, of course, be hopeless to attempt to crowd into an international language all those local overtones of meaning which are so dear to the heart of the nationalist.

More and more, unsolicited gifts from without are likely to be received with unconscious resentment.

One of the glories of English simplicity is the possibility of using the same word as noun and verb.

We see and hear and otherwise experience very largely as we do because the language habits of our community predispose certain choices of interpretation.

National languages are all huge systems of vested interests which sullenly resist critical inquiry.

The attitude of independence toward a constructed language which all national speakers must adopt is really a great advantage, because it tends to make man see himself as the master of language instead of its obedient servant.