Dry Quote by Ezra Pound
“And the betrayers of language … n and the press gang And those who had lied for hire; The perverts, the perverters of language, the perverts, who have set money-lust Before the pleasures of the senses; howling, as of a hen-yard in a printing-house, the clatter of presses, the blowing of dry dust and stray paper, foetor, sweat, the stench of stale oranges.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Cantos, Ezra Pound, 1925
Language can be corrupted by greed and sensationalism, turning communication into noise.
In simple terms: Greed distorts language into chaos.
Key Takeaway
Guard truth against commercial exploitation.
Themes
language
corruption
media
greed
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
literary
political
When to use this quote
- journalism
- advertising
- political speech
- social media
Key Concepts
propaganda
truth
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern authentic speech?
- Can language remain pure amid commerce?
A Different Perspective
Pure language may be impossible in a profit‑driven world.
![“[Restraints on the press] in all ages, have debauched morals, depressed liberty, shackled religion, supported despotism, and deluged the scaffold with blood.” quote by James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2f4/james-madison-373_age_restraints-on-the-press-in-all-ages-have_1429769.jpg)
![“When the fountains of government [borrowing] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the state was forced to check the extension of bureaucracy and to put a stop to public works, then and then only did the Italians realize what it…” quote by John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/908/john-t-flynn-18493_abundance_when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowi_2663.jpg)
