Ancestor Quote by David Abram
“As nonhuman animals, plants, and even 'inanimate' rivers once spoke to our oral ancestors, so the ostensibly “inert” letters on the page now speak to us! This is a form of animism that we take for granted, but it is animism nonetheless - as mysterious as a talking stone.”
About This Quote
Source Book: *The Spell of the Sensuous*, 1996
He describes how language, once thought inert, actually animates our relationship with the natural world, likening it to a living, mysterious force.
In simple terms: Words act like living beings that connect us to nature.
Key Takeaway
Listen to the life in language and environment.
Themes
language
nature
animism
Mood
poetic
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
environmental
When to use this quote
- writing
- environmental education
- storytelling
Key Concepts
ecology
phenomenology
Questions to Reflect On
- In what ways does language shape our perception of nature?
- Can we balance scientific objectivity with animistic reverence?
A Different Perspective
Treating language as animate may overlook its constructed, cultural aspects.
![“Entranced by the denotative power of words to define, to order, to represent the things around us, weve overlooked the songful dimension of language so obvious to our oral [storytelling] ancestors. Weve lost our ear for the music of language -- for the rhythmic, melodic layer of speech by which…” quote by David Abram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/023/david-abram-15943_ancestor_entranced-by-the-denotative-power-of-wor_1198850.jpg)
