--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Language makes culture, and we make a…" description: "\"Language makes culture, and we make a rotten culture when we abuse words.\" — Cynthia Ozick" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35c/cynthia-ozick-2945_abuse_language-makes-culture-and-we-make-a-rot_1569505.png" --- # Language makes culture, and we make a rotten culture when… ![“Language makes culture, and we make a rotten culture when we abuse words.” quote by Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35c/cynthia-ozick-2945_abuse_language-makes-culture-and-we-make-a-rot_1569505.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35c/cynthia-ozick-2945_abuse_language-makes-culture-and-we-make-a-rot_1569505.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35c/cynthia-ozick-2945_abuse_language-makes-culture-and-we-make-a-rot_1569505.png) > “Language makes culture, and we make a rotten culture when we abuse words.” [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words shape cultural values; misusing them degrades society. **In simple terms:** Abusing language harms culture. Key Takeaway Speak responsibly. Themes language culture ethics Mood reflective concerned Type ethical observational When to use this quote - teaching - public speaking - media criticism - personal interactions Key Concepts communication social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How does your word choice affect your community? - Can you repair harm caused by careless speech? A Different Perspective Words alone cannot fix deep systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) ## Related quotes > [People of every political viewpoint need to work together to end this worsening culture of abuse that has permeated our political debate and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-reeves/people-of-every-political-viewpoint-need-to-work-together-to-end-this/) [Rachel Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-reeves/) > [I'm a third-culture child. It's an interesting concept. Having an American father, a South American mother, born in England, grew up in Hong Kong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-chantal-claire/i-m-a-third-culture-child-it-s-an-interesting-concept-having-an/) Marie-Chantal Claire > [The only way to grab the attention of the audience is originality. We feed ourselves with franchises that's the opposite of what makes our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/the-only-way-to-grab-the-attention-of-the-audience-is-originality-we/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/abuse-of-words-has-been-the-great-instrument-of-sophistry-and/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Words may be either the servants or masters. If the former they may safely guide us in the way of truth. If the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-horne/words-may-be-either-the-servants-or-masters-if-the-former-they-may/) [George Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-horne/) > [Among the many evils which prevail under the sun, the abuse of words is not the least considerable. By the influence of time, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/among-the-many-evils-which-prevail-under-the-sun-the-abuse-of-words/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [“When you feel caught in the web of childhood abuse, find words to describe it. Write them. Say them. Express them. 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Language makes so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-elbow/the-real-reason-that-language-so-often-carries-magic-is-because/) [Peter Elbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-elbow/) > [“although culture is a creation of speech, it is recreated anew by every medium of communication—from painting to hieroglyphs to the alphabet to television.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/although-culture-is-a-creation-of-speech-it-is-recreated-anew-by/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [“I've always been after the trappings of great luxury. But all I've got hold of are the trappings of great poverty. I've got hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cook/i-ve-always-been-after-the-trappings-of-great-luxury-but-all-i-ve-got/) [Peter Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cook/) ## More by Cynthia Ozick > [History ... isn't simply what has happened. 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Religion in all its forms is dedication to Someone Else's work, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/dedication-to-one-s-work-in-the-world-is-the-only-possible-sanctifica/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [What was lost in the European cataclysm was not only the Jewish past--the whole life of a civilization--but also a major share ofthe Jewish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/what-was-lost-in-the-european-cataclysm-was-not-only-the-jewish-past/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [“We take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/we-take-for-granted-the-very-things-that-most-deserve-our-gratitude/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) [Explore all 144 Cynthia Ozick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. 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When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. 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