Ancient Indians had a far deeper confidence in living speech than in the moral, impersonal and derivative written communication. When words issued from the mouth of a sayer, they carried a personal endorsement.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Ancient Indians valued spoken words more than written text because speech carried the personal weight of the speaker. Written words were seen as impersonal and less trustworthy.
- In plain terms
- People trusted spoken words more because the speaker was present to endorse them personally.
- What can you take from it?
- Personal presence adds value and trust to communication.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is speech inherently more trustworthy than writing?
- What do we lose when we move from oral to written culture?
Another view
Written communication allows ideas to spread beyond the immediate presence of the speaker.
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