Babies who have not yet been taught to speak any language are the only race of the earth, the race of man: all the rest is pretence, what we call civilization, hatred, fear, desire for strength.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker suggests that true humanity exists before language and civilization impose divisions like hatred and fear.
- In plain terms
- Babies who do not speak yet are the only true humans because everything else is fake.
- What can you take from it?
- True humanity exists before society divides us.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What parts of civilization feel like pretence to you?
- How do language and culture divide people?
Another view
Idealizing pre-linguistic beings ignores that language is also a tool for connection and culture.
More from William Saroyan
This is what drives a young writer out of his head, this feeling that nothing is being said.
Permalink to quote #41 I see life as one life at one time, so many millions simultaneously, all over the earth.
Permalink to quote #43 It is the heart of man that I am trying to imply in this work.
Permalink to quote #40
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