Innovation Quote by Agatha Christie
““Speech, so a wise old Frenchman said to me once, is an invention of man's to prevent him from thinking. It is also an infallible means of discovering that which he wishes to hide.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, 1926
Speech is portrayed as a tool that distracts people from thinking and reveals hidden truths.
In simple terms: Words can distract and expose hidden motives.
Key Takeaway
Question how language shapes thought.
Themes
communication
distraction
truth
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- personal reflection
- media analysis
Key Concepts
psychology
social control
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language influence what we think?
- When does speech reveal rather than conceal?
A Different Perspective
Speech can also inspire and clarify, not just distract.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
