Human beings do not live in the objective world alone, nor alone in the world of social activity as ordinarily understood, but are very much at the mercy of the particular language which has become the medium of expression for… — Edward Sapir Copy Share Image
Human beings do not wish to be modest; they want to be as expressive - that is, as immodest - as fear allows; fashion… — Edward Sapir Copy Share
A common allegiance to form of expression that is identified with no single national unit is likely to prove one of the most potent… — Edward Sapir Copy Share
A standard international language should not only be simple, regular, and logical, but also rich and creative. — Edward Sapir Copy Share
The psychology of a language which, in one way or another, is imposed upon one because of factors beyond one's control, is very different… — Edward Sapir Copy Share
French and German illustrate the misleading character of apparent grammatical simplicity just as well. — Edward Sapir Copy Share
A common creation demands a common sacrifice, and perhaps not the least potent argument in favour of a constructed international language is the fact… — Edward Sapir Copy Share
A second type of direct evidence is formed by statements, whether as formal legends or personal information, regarding the age or relative sequence of… — Edward Sapir Copy Share
One of the glories of English simplicity is the possibility of using the same word as noun and verb. — Edward Sapir Copy Share
Comparison of statements made at different periods frequently enable us to give maximal and minimal dates to the appearance of a cultural element or… — Edward Sapir Copy Share
No two languages are ever sufficiently similar to be considered as representing the same social reality. — Edward Sapir Copy Share
It is no secret that the fruits of language study are in no sort of relation to the labour spent on teaching and learning… — Edward Sapir Copy Share
Cultural anthropology is not valuable because it uncovers the archaic in the psychological sense. It is valuable because it is constantly rediscovering the normal. — Edward Sapir Copy Share
As a matter of fact, a national language which spreads beyond its own confines very quickly loses much of its original richness of content… — Edward Sapir Copy Share
Cultural anthropology is more and more rapidly getting to realize itself as a strictly historical science. — Edward Sapir Copy Share
Language is the most massive and inclusive art we know, a mountainous and anonymous work of unconscious generations. — Edward Sapir Copy Share
