Daily bread Quote by John McWhorter
““Modern Our Father, who is in heaven, blessed be your name. Give us our daily bread today. All three of these languages were rich, beautiful systems. There are no dogs to be seen. Middle English, the language of Chaucer, does not give the impression of being a “bastardization” of Old English or an example of “Old English in decay.” It was simply a new English of its own, the product of the gradual transformation of Old English, a transformation barely perceptible to Old English speakers themselves but visible to us by looking at texts over time. Similarly, Modern English, the language of Jane Austen, is surely not “bad” Middle English, but a new English in its own right. In other words, the progression from Old to Middle to Modem English shows us that contrary to the impression so easy””
About This Quote
Language evolves gradually, each stage building on the previous without being inferior.
In simple terms: Languages change over time, each becoming its own form.
Key Takeaway
Respect each language stage as a natural evolution.
Themes
language evolution
historical linguistics
cultural continuity
Mood
reflective
appreciative
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- studying old texts
- teaching language history
- appreciating dialects
- comparing translations
Key Concepts
gradual transformation
language continuity
historical perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing language evolution affect our view of modern speech?
- What value does preserving older language forms hold?
A Different Perspective
Changes can be slow and subtle, making it hard to notice without comparative study.
![“[I] would argue that native-born blacks are so vastly less "African" than actual Africans that calling ourselves 'African American' is not only illogical but almost disrespectful to African immigrants. Here are people who were born in Africa, speak African languages, eat African food, dance in…” quote by John McWhorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b22/john-mcwhorter-25821_africa_i-would-argue-that-native-born-blacks-ar_791611.jpg)
![“This letter [to the Romans] is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or…” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5a6/martin-luther-106_bible_this-letter-to-the-romans-is-truly-the-m_153943.jpg)
