--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Quite naturally, scholars assumed that…" description: "\"Quite naturally, scholars assumed that Latin grammar was not merely Latin grammar, but that it was grammar itself. They borrowed it and made the most o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/charlton-laird-34745_borrowed_quite-naturally-scholars-assumed-that-la_142577.jpg" --- # Quite naturally, scholars assumed that Latin grammar was… ![“Quite naturally, scholars assumed that Latin grammar was not merely Latin grammar, but that it was grammar itself. They borrowed it and made the most of it.” quote by Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/charlton-laird-34745_borrowed_quite-naturally-scholars-assumed-that-la_142577.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/charlton-laird-34745_borrowed_quite-naturally-scholars-assumed-that-la_142577.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/charlton-laird-34745_borrowed_quite-naturally-scholars-assumed-that-la_142577.jpg) > “Quite naturally, scholars assumed that Latin grammar was not merely Latin grammar, but that it was grammar itself. They borrowed it and made the most of it.” [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scholars saw Latin grammar as a universal model, not just a language tool, and applied it broadly. **In simple terms:** Latin grammar was treated as a general framework. Key Takeaway Recognize the broader applicability of core principles. Themes education language universality Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - teaching languages - cross‑disciplinary research - curriculum design Key Concepts grammar theory transferable knowledge Questions to Reflect On - How can we adapt universal models to respect diversity? - What limits arise from overgeneralization? A Different Perspective Assumes all languages fit the same model, which may ignore cultural nuances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grammar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grammar/) [Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin/) [Scholar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholar/) ## Related quotes > [I loved Latin -- the grammar, the difficult tenses, the history -- but for some reason I was very bad at it, shamefully and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/i-loved-latin-the-grammar-the-difficult-tenses-the-history-but-for/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) > [ The truth seems to be that they \[teachers of grammar\] were victims of a mighty hoax, one of those true belly-rumbling impostures which a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-they-teachers-of-grammar-were-victims-of-a/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [I toyed with making portraits based on people's discarded shopping lists found on the street, or old diaries bought on eBay, or other forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-blackall/i-toyed-with-making-portraits-based-on-people-s-discarded-shopping/) [Sophie Blackall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-blackall/) > [There is a big problem. The problem is the country borrowed too much. We went on a borrowing binge, there was a housing boom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/there-is-a-big-problem-the-problem-is-the-country-borrowed-too-much/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [I think when Tom Ford was there I borrowed a Gucci tux one time, and they were very nice and he was very kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-leto/i-think-when-tom-ford-was-there-i-borrowed-a-gucci-tux-one-time-and/) [Jared Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-leto/) > [In 1981, I borrowed 2,000 pounds - a lot of money back then - paid 50 quid for a seat, packed my own sandwich,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/in-1981-i-borrowed-2-000-pounds-a-lot-of-money-back-then-paid-50-quid/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [There is a word Kristos in the Greek dictionary, and this word is supposed to be borrowed from the Sanskrit word "Krishna," and Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/there-is-a-word-kristos-in-the-greek-dictionary-and-this-word-is/) [A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/) > [I'm so sick of mermaid dresses, trains, borrowed bling-bling, and a pose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-leon-talley/i-m-so-sick-of-mermaid-dresses-trains-borrowed-bling-bling-and-a-pose/) [Andre Leon Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-leon-talley/) > [Investors, of course, can, by their own behavior make stock ownership highly risky. And many do. Active trading, attempts to "time" market movements, inadequate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/investors-of-course-can-by-their-own-behavior-make-stock-ownership/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“I came to this world with nothing, and I leave with nothing but love, everything else is just borrowed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-streets/i-came-to-this-world-with-nothing-and-i-leave-with-nothing-but-love/) The Streets > [Any sizeable Portuguese town looks like a superstitious bride's finery - something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/any-sizeable-portuguese-town-looks-like-a-superstitious-bride-s/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [I'm no innovator. If anything I'm a stealer, or borrower. I've stolen or borrowed from more people than you can shake a stick at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/i-m-no-innovator-if-anything-i-m-a-stealer-or-borrower-i-ve-stolen-or/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [The combination of such characters, some, as the sacral ones, altogether peculiar among Reptiles, others borrowed, as it were, from groups now distinct from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-owen/the-combination-of-such-characters-some-as-the-sacral-ones-altogether/) [Richard Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-owen/) > [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I love awards, especially if I get them. It's up to the courage of the filmmakers to make art in cinema, not just business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gazzara/i-love-awards-especially-if-i-get-them-it-s-up-to-the-courage-of-the/) [Ben Gazzara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gazzara/) ## More by Charlton Laird > [Babies and language are the essential ingredients of civilization, and speakers of language no more know where it came from than babies know where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/babies-and-language-are-the-essential-ingredients-of-civilization-and/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [The great arbiters of language are the women who speak it in the presence of children... What the women pass on to the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/the-great-arbiters-of-language-are-the-women-who-speak-it-in-the/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [You and I who read and write books have very little effect upon language. We may think about it, write about it, and read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/you-and-i-who-read-and-write-books-have-very-little-effect-upon/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [An amoeba is a formless thing which takes many shapes. It moves by thrusting out an arm, and flowing into the arm. It multiplies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/an-amoeba-is-a-formless-thing-which-takes-many-shapes-it-moves-by/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [Jazz was formerly a crude term for indulging in an action which in polite society is referred to, if at all, only with such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/jazz-was-formerly-a-crude-term-for-indulging-in-an-action-which-in/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [Civilization could not exist until there was written language, because without written language no generation could bequeath to succeeding generations anything but its simpler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/civilization-could-not-exist-until-there-was-written-language-because/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [Amoebas, once they have themselves well pulled in two, go their ways-they practice divorce, but no remarriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/amoebas-once-they-have-themselves-well-pulled-in-two-go-their-ways/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [Language is a living thing. It must survive in men's minds and on their tongues if it survives at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/language-is-a-living-thing-it-must-survive-in-men-s-minds-and-on/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [ The truth seems to be that they \[teachers of grammar\] were victims of a mighty hoax, one of those true belly-rumbling impostures which a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-they-teachers-of-grammar-were-victims-of-a/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [Man can be defined, if one wishes, as a languag-ized mammal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/man-can-be-defined-if-one-wishes-as-a-languag-ized-mammal/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [Grammar is not a set of rules; it is something inherent in the language, and language cannot exist without it. It can be discovered,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/grammar-is-not-a-set-of-rules-it-is-something-inherent-in-the/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [If language is intimately related to being human, then when we study language we are, to a remarkable degree, studying human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/if-language-is-intimately-related-to-being-human-then-when-we-study/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [“Most people can swim a narrow river. Water is an alien element, but with labor we can force ourselves through it. A good swimmer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/most-people-can-swim-a-narrow-river-water-is-an-alien-element-but/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) [Explore all 14 Charlton Laird quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) ## More Borrowed quotes > [I love awards, especially if I get them. It's up to the courage of the filmmakers to make art in cinema, not just business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gazzara/i-love-awards-especially-if-i-get-them-it-s-up-to-the-courage-of-the/) [Ben Gazzara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gazzara/) > [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [The combination of such characters, some, as the sacral ones, altogether peculiar among Reptiles, others borrowed, as it were, from groups now distinct from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-owen/the-combination-of-such-characters-some-as-the-sacral-ones-altogether/) [Richard Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-owen/) > [I'm no innovator. If anything I'm a stealer, or borrower. I've stolen or borrowed from more people than you can shake a stick at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/i-m-no-innovator-if-anything-i-m-a-stealer-or-borrower-i-ve-stolen-or/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [Any sizeable Portuguese town looks like a superstitious bride's finery - something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/any-sizeable-portuguese-town-looks-like-a-superstitious-bride-s/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [“I came to this world with nothing, and I leave with nothing but love, everything else is just borrowed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-streets/i-came-to-this-world-with-nothing-and-i-leave-with-nothing-but-love/) The Streets > [Investors, of course, can, by their own behavior make stock ownership highly risky. And many do. Active trading, attempts to "time" market movements, inadequate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/investors-of-course-can-by-their-own-behavior-make-stock-ownership/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I'm so sick of mermaid dresses, trains, borrowed bling-bling, and a pose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-leon-talley/i-m-so-sick-of-mermaid-dresses-trains-borrowed-bling-bling-and-a-pose/) [Andre Leon Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-leon-talley/) > [There is a word Kristos in the Greek dictionary, and this word is supposed to be borrowed from the Sanskrit word "Krishna," and Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/there-is-a-word-kristos-in-the-greek-dictionary-and-this-word-is/) [A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-prabhupada/) > [In 1981, I borrowed 2,000 pounds - a lot of money back then - paid 50 quid for a seat, packed my own sandwich,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/in-1981-i-borrowed-2-000-pounds-a-lot-of-money-back-then-paid-50-quid/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [I think when Tom Ford was there I borrowed a Gucci tux one time, and they were very nice and he was very kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-leto/i-think-when-tom-ford-was-there-i-borrowed-a-gucci-tux-one-time-and/) [Jared Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-leto/) > [There is a big problem. The problem is the country borrowed too much. We went on a borrowing binge, there was a housing boom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/there-is-a-big-problem-the-problem-is-the-country-borrowed-too-much/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [I toyed with making portraits based on people's discarded shopping lists found on the street, or old diaries bought on eBay, or other forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-blackall/i-toyed-with-making-portraits-based-on-people-s-discarded-shopping/) [Sophie Blackall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-blackall/) > [There are instances where lines in my work are borrowed or stolen from sources, mainly from books, or they become my own versions. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-pettibon/there-are-instances-where-lines-in-my-work-are-borrowed-or-stolen/) [Raymond Pettibon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-pettibon/) > [True beauty lives on high. Ours is but a flame borrowed thence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/true-beauty-lives-on-high-ours-is-but-a-flame-borrowed-thence/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) Browse all 343 Borrowed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Quite naturally, scholars assumed that Latin grammar was not merely Latin grammar, but that it was grammar itself. 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