--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My friend had a brilliant idea. This…" description: "\"My friend had a brilliant idea. This impressed me. It reflected an immense deal of credit on his brain. But when he expressed it,it lost all value, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/marvin-l-cohen-64512_brain_my-friend-had-a-brilliant-idea-this-impr_1792411.jpg" --- # My friend had a brilliant idea. This impressed me. It… ![“My friend had a brilliant idea. This impressed me. It reflected an immense deal of credit on his brain. But when he expressed it,it lost all value, and enjoyed but a commonplace status. My friend blamed this devaluation on the language. "I hate English," he said. So he studied another language. He…” quote by Marvin L. Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/marvin-l-cohen-64512_brain_my-friend-had-a-brilliant-idea-this-impr_1792411.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/marvin-l-cohen-64512_brain_my-friend-had-a-brilliant-idea-this-impr_1792411.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/marvin-l-cohen-64512_brain_my-friend-had-a-brilliant-idea-this-impr_1792411.jpg) > “My friend had a brilliant idea. This impressed me. It reflected an immense deal of credit on his brain. But when he expressed it,it lost all value, and enjoyed but a commonplace status. My friend blamed this devaluation on the language. "I hate English," he said. So he studied another language. He mastered it so perfectly that there was no room left in his brain for a brilliant idea. Now he has a grudge against words. He refuses to use them. He prefers to shrug or grunt. A new crop of ideas is growing. They show promise of future refinement.” [Marvin L. Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-l-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overthinking language can stifle creativity and ideas. **In simple terms:** Too much focus on words blocks ideas. Key Takeaway Balance language use with creative thinking. Themes creativity language cognition Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - writing workshops - brainstorming sessions - educational curricula Key Concepts semantic overload idea generation mental flexibility Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape your ideas? - Can silence foster innovation? A Different Perspective Some argue language is essential for shaping thought. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Brilliant ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant-ideas/) [Commonplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonplace/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Crops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crops/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Enjoyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyed/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Grudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grudge/) [Grunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grunt/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [I hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-hate/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Idea Grudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-grudge-1958215/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-growing-458382/) [Immense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immense/) [Impressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impressed/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-hate-1958214/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [My friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-friends/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Refinement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refinement/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [With new jobs, new ideas, and growing confidence that our brightest days lie ahead, Wisconsin is on the move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-doyle/with-new-jobs-new-ideas-and-growing-confidence-that-our-brightest/) [Jim Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-doyle/) > [Practice the vocabulary of love - unlearn the language of hate and contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/practice-the-vocabulary-of-love-unlearn-the-language-of-hate-and/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Ideas were growing in all directions and dimensions; they were becoming a sculpture, or a castle. And then everyone left her, to return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/ideas-were-growing-in-all-directions-and-dimensions-they-were/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [People who speak the same language can hate one another as easily as can people who speak unrelated languages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-farb/people-who-speak-the-same-language-can-hate-one-another-as-easily-as/) [Peter Farb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-farb/) > [Perhaps, when we remember wars, we should take off our clothes and paint ourselves blue and go on all fours all day long and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/perhaps-when-we-remember-wars-we-should-take-off-our-clothes-and/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I'm still trying to find the perfect Nirvana song that's an example of that, but you do hear a lot of their songs start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-christe/i-m-still-trying-to-find-the-perfect-nirvana-song-that-s-an-example/) [Ian Christe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-christe/) > [Americans should never underestimate the constant pressure on Canada which the mere presence of the United States has produced. We're different people from you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/americans-should-never-underestimate-the-constant-pressure-on-canada/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [Once we see more of our need and understand more of what Christ has done for us, he will become more precious to us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/once-we-see-more-of-our-need-and-understand-more-of-what-christ-has/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [These Indians are fierce, they wear feathers and grunt. Most of us dont fit this idealized figure since we grunt only when overeating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/these-indians-are-fierce-they-wear-feathers-and-grunt-most-of-us-dont/) [Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/) > [Grunt, foam at the mouth, and otherwise get psychic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-annemann/grunt-foam-at-the-mouth-and-otherwise-get-psychic/) [Theodore Annemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-annemann/) > [Work hard, not in grunt work, but in chasing such opportunities and maximizing exposure to them. This makes living in big cities invaluable because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/work-hard-not-in-grunt-work-but-in-chasing-such-opportunities-and/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [In a way, it is I who must do the grunt work. I want to work with kids... I hope we can grow so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-hellqvist/in-a-way-it-is-i-who-must-do-the-grunt-work-i-want-to-work-with-kids/) [Sofia Hellqvist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-hellqvist/) > [Writing a song is almost like cheating-writing because you don't have to finish your sentences, you don't have to use any punctuation, no one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirah/writing-a-song-is-almost-like-cheating-writing-because-you-don-t-have/) [Mirah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirah/) > [From my image of digging around in the mud like a grunt, I preferred fighting the war from ships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haskell-wexler/from-my-image-of-digging-around-in-the-mud-like-a-grunt-i-preferred/) [Haskell Wexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haskell-wexler/) > [The boys had asked why, if it acted slowly, was it called quicksand. The Mollusks had replied that, as far as they were concerned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-pearson/the-boys-had-asked-why-if-it-acted-slowly-was-it-called-quicksand-the/) [Ridley Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-pearson/) ## More by Marvin L. Cohen > [The museum is full of interesting things. All kinds of paintings are there. And then paintings too thick to put in a frame, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-l-cohen/the-museum-is-full-of-interesting-things-all-kinds-of-paintings-are/) [Marvin L. Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-l-cohen/) > [Your views are now my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-l-cohen/your-views-are-now-my-own/) [Marvin L. Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-l-cohen/) > [My friend devotes himself to his life, whenever he can find the spare time. His motto is: 'Don't just sit there: live!' So he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-l-cohen/my-friend-devotes-himself-to-his-life-whenever-he-can-find-the-spare/) [Marvin L. Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-l-cohen/) > [Ah, the truth, what a thing it is! I sacrifice so much for it, with people: I forego, for truth's sake, discretion, loyalty, diplomacy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-l-cohen/ah-the-truth-what-a-thing-it-is-i-sacrifice-so-much-for-it-with/) [Marvin L. Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-l-cohen/) [Explore all 5 Marvin L. Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-l-cohen/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My friend had a brilliant idea. This impressed me. It reflected an immense deal of credit on his brain. But when he expressed it,it lost all value, and enjoyed but a commonplace status. My friend blamed this devaluation on the language. \"I hate English,\" he said. So he studied another language. He mastered it so perfectly that there was no room left in his brain for a brilliant idea. Now he has a grudge against words. He refuses to use them. He prefers to shrug or grunt. A new crop of ideas is growing. 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