--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Better than chanting a thousand words in…" description: "\"Better than chanting a thousand words in a dead language is one soothing word spoken in the vernacular.\" — Gautama Buddha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/gautama-buddha-163_chanting_better-than-chanting-a-thousand-words-in_1255463.jpg" --- # Better than chanting a thousand words in a dead language… ![“Better than chanting a thousand words in a dead language is one soothing word spoken in the vernacular.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/gautama-buddha-163_chanting_better-than-chanting-a-thousand-words-in_1255463.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/gautama-buddha-163_chanting_better-than-chanting-a-thousand-words-in_1255463.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/gautama-buddha-163_chanting_better-than-chanting-a-thousand-words-in_1255463.jpg) > “Better than chanting a thousand words in a dead language is one soothing word spoken in the vernacular.” [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the power of simple, heartfelt communication over complex, archaic language. **In simple terms:** Simple words in native tongue are most soothing. Key Takeaway Speak plainly and sincerely. Themes communication simplicity culture Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - counseling - public speaking Key Concepts language accessibility emotional resonance Questions to Reflect On - When is formal language necessary? - How to balance simplicity with depth? A Different Perspective Complex language can convey nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Soothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soothing/) [Vernacular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vernacular/) ## Related quotes > [I would be a liar if I said it wouldn't be lovely and soothing - that's the word - to have a hit single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/i-would-be-a-liar-if-i-said-it-wouldn-t-be-lovely-and-soothing-that-s/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [Diminutive worlds are more likely to be rocky, and lapped by oceans and atmospheres. In the vernacular of 'Star Trek,' these would be M-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/diminutive-worlds-are-more-likely-to-be-rocky-and-lapped-by-oceans/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Oh, this I have to see. I love it when you go for the vernacular. Jugular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/oh-this-i-have-to-see-i-love-it-when-you-go-for-the-vernacular-jugular/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I nod seriously, "Supes." "You're mocking me." "A little bit." "People say supes!" "What people?" "I can't believe you're shaming me right now. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-miller/i-nod-seriously-supes-you-re-mocking-me-a-little-bit-people-say-supes/) [Lauren Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-miller/) > [When I write lyrics, I really do go into an automatic folk appropriation mode... I see the vernacular register of 20th century song as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lethem/when-i-write-lyrics-i-really-do-go-into-an-automatic-folk/) [Jonathan Lethem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lethem/) > [You will find that the truth is often unpopular and the contest between agreeable fancy and disagreeable fact is unequal. For, in the vernacular,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-e-stevenson-2/you-will-find-that-the-truth-is-often-unpopular-and-the-contest/) [Adlai E Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-e-stevenson-2/) > [The older I got, the more willing I was to go into the Southern vernacular, because some of it's funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-jackson/the-older-i-got-the-more-willing-i-was-to-go-into-the-southern/) [Keith Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-jackson/) > [What's impossible not to notice, though - it's all around us - is the diminution of American prose: How pedestrian it has become. Pick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/what-s-impossible-not-to-notice-though-it-s-all-around-us-is-the/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [I’m interested in vernacular cultures, where people lived a little closer to the source of materials and the making of objects for use. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-puryear/i-m-interested-in-vernacular-cultures-where-people-lived-a-little/) [Martin Puryear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-puryear/) > [I was deeply impressed and moved by his masterful playing. He was highly polished, profound, subtle, and intense. He was extremely fluent in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-la-roca/i-was-deeply-impressed-and-moved-by-his-masterful-playing-he-was/) Pete La Roca > [The Catholic Church has a dignity far surpassing that of every merely human society, for it was founded by Christ the Lord. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-xxiii/the-catholic-church-has-a-dignity-far-surpassing-that-of-every-merely/) [Pope John XXIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-xxiii/) > [I'm working on poems about work, I guess. Or related to work. Which sounds dull as drywall but I'm having great fun working the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-mann/i-m-working-on-poems-about-work-i-guess-or-related-to-work-which/) [Randall Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-mann/) > [Architectural kitsch is most common in the commercial pop vernacular - typified by the Big Duck of 1931 in Flanders, New York, a Long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-filler/architectural-kitsch-is-most-common-in-the-commercial-pop-vernacular/) [Martin Filler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-filler/) > [Writers today must navigate the shifting verbal currents of the post-Gutenberg era. When does jargon end and a new vernacular begin? Where's the line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-hale/writers-today-must-navigate-the-shifting-verbal-currents-of-the-post/) [Constance Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-hale/) > [I'm motivated by injustice, which is embedded and constant and wrong - not by a vernacular soundboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-richards/i-m-motivated-by-injustice-which-is-embedded-and-constant-and-wrong/) [Amy Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-richards/) ## More by Gautama Buddha > [Before you've seen it, and when you first see it, it is the greatest thing; afterwards, it is ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/before-you-ve-seen-it-and-when-you-first-see-it-it-is-the-greatest/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Give thanks for what had been given to you, However little. Be pure, never falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/give-thanks-for-what-had-been-given-to-you-however-little-be-pure/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Pain is the outcome of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/pain-is-the-outcome-of-sin/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [It is because I perceive the danger in the practice of mystic wonders, that I loath, abhor, and am ashamed thereof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/it-is-because-i-perceive-the-danger-in-the-practice-of-mystic-wonders/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If one is the master of oneself, one is the resort one can depend on; therefore, one should control oneself of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-one-is-the-master-of-oneself-one-is-the-resort-one-can-depend-on/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/watch-the-thought-and-its-ways-with-care-and-let-it-spring-from-love/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One is not low because of birth nor does birth make one holy. Deeds alone make one low, deeds alone make one holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-low-because-of-birth-nor-does-birth-make-one-holy-deeds/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/he-who-causes-suffering-shall-suffer-there-is-no-escape/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If a person does not harm any living being...and does not kill or cause others to kill - that person is a true spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-a-person-does-not-harm-any-living-being-and-does-not-kill-or-cause/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The fool says, "These are my sons, this is my land, this is my money." In reality, the fool does not own himself, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-fool-says-these-are-my-sons-this-is-my-land-this-is-my-money-in/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) [Explore all 1,043 Gautama Buddha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More Chanting quotes > [When you win you're going to get fans chanting your name and when you don't do great they're going to give you stick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-bellerin/when-you-win-you-re-going-to-get-fans-chanting-your-name-and-when-you/) [Hector Bellerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-bellerin/) > [I wasn’t like, boo hoo, Bin Laden’s dead, but I wasn’t jumping. America’s a very nationalistic country, and in episodes like that of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scahill/i-wasn-t-like-boo-hoo-bin-laden-s-dead-but-i-wasn-t-jumping-america-s/) [Jeremy Scahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scahill/) > [It is a good practice to write at least on page of mantra daily. Many people get better concentration by writing than by chanting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/it-is-a-good-practice-to-write-at-least-on-page-of-mantra-daily-many/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [“Many secular observers and spiritual practitioners alike mistake mystical chanting as a kind of anthropological curiosity or interesting musical diversion from secular mainstream entertainment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/many-secular-observers-and-spiritual-practitioners-alike-mistake/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [I find the practice of yoga very spiritual and taking the time to just be and to reflect through meditation and chanting helps me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/i-find-the-practice-of-yoga-very-spiritual-and-taking-the-time-to/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [Krishna is God, and by chanting His Holy Names, the devotee quickly develops God-consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/krishna-is-god-and-by-chanting-his-holy-names-the-devotee-quickly/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [The trappings of a religious cult tend to fall into candlelit ceremonies and robes and group chanting and singing and prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/the-trappings-of-a-religious-cult-tend-to-fall-into-candlelit/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [If people would just wake up to what's real, there would be no misery in the world. I guess chanting's a pretty good place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/if-people-would-just-wake-up-to-what-s-real-there-would-be-no-misery/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [So I started chanting when I was nineteen, which was about twelve years ago, and it really had a huge impact on my outlook,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-sheik/so-i-started-chanting-when-i-was-nineteen-which-was-about-twelve/) [Duncan Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-sheik/) > [When I say that "l see God," I don't necessarily mean to say that when I chant I'm seeing Krishna in His original form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/when-i-say-that-l-see-god-i-don-t-necessarily-mean-to-say-that-when-i/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [The echo of the gunshots lingered; it was soon drowned by the chanting of the mob, and I didn't believe what I was hearing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarreth-j-merz/the-echo-of-the-gunshots-lingered-it-was-soon-drowned-by-the-chanting/) Jarreth J. Merz > [Welcome to Israel, where chanting “Death to Arabs” is democracy, running over children is equality, and firing on funerals is peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remi-kanazi/welcome-to-israel-where-chanting-death-to-arabs-is-democracy-running/) [Remi Kanazi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remi-kanazi/) > [The dying swan, when years her temples pierce, In music-strains breathes out her life and verse, And, chanting her own dirge, tides on her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phineas-fletcher/the-dying-swan-when-years-her-temples-pierce-in-music-strains/) [Phineas Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phineas-fletcher/) > [Aum is the most powerful of all mantras. It is good to chant Aum seven or more times before and after each meditation. Chanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/aum-is-the-most-powerful-of-all-mantras-it-is-good-to-chant-aum-seven/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [My mom lived on an ashram on the early eighties. She turned me on to kundalini yoga and chanting and Transcendental Meditation. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-dane/my-mom-lived-on-an-ashram-on-the-early-eighties-she-turned-me-on-to/) [Taylor Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-dane/) Browse all 161 Chanting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Better than chanting a thousand words in a dead language is one soothing word spoken in the vernacular.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gautama Buddha" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/better-than-chanting-a-thousand-words-in-a-dead-language-is-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chanting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/better-than-chanting-a-thousand-words-in-a-dead-language-is-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/gautama-buddha-163_chanting_better-than-chanting-a-thousand-words-in_1255463.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/gautama-buddha-163_chanting_better-than-chanting-a-thousand-words-in_1255463.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/gautama-buddha-163_chanting_better-than-chanting-a-thousand-words-in_1255463.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Better than chanting a thousand words in a dead language is one soothing word spoken in the vernacular.” — Gautama Buddha", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gautama Buddha", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Better than chanting a thousand words...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/better-than-chanting-a-thousand-words-in-a-dead-language-is-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/better-than-chanting-a-thousand-words-in-a-dead-language-is-one/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```