---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The spoken word is nothing. It hardly…"
description: "\"The spoken word is nothing. It hardly lives longer than an insect! Only the written word is eternal. - Balbulus\" — Cornelia Funke"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90a/cornelia-funke-908_insects_the-spoken-word-is-nothing-it-hardly-liv_2462519.png"
---

#  The spoken word is nothing. It hardly lives longer than an…

![“The spoken word is nothing. It hardly lives longer than an insect! Only the written word is eternal. - Balbulus” quote by Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90a/cornelia-funke-908_insects_the-spoken-word-is-nothing-it-hardly-liv_2462519.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90a/cornelia-funke-908_insects_the-spoken-word-is-nothing-it-hardly-liv_2462519.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90a/cornelia-funke-908_insects_the-spoken-word-is-nothing-it-hardly-liv_2462519.png)

> “The spoken word is nothing. It hardly lives longer than an insect! Only the written word is eternal. - Balbulus”

[Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Spoken words are fleeting, while written words endure beyond a lifespan, emphasizing the permanence of literature.

**In simple terms:** Speech is temporary; writing lasts.

Key Takeaway

Write to leave a legacy.

Themes

literature ephemerality legacy

Mood

nostalgic thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- journals
- books
- digital archives

Key Concepts

writing memory cultural transmission

Questions to Reflect On

- What stories survive only in speech?
- How does digital media affect permanence?

A Different Perspective

Oral traditions also preserve history.

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[Insects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insects/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Spoken word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoken-word/) [Written word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-word/)

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