Believe Quote by Murray Gell-Mann
“Modern language must be older than the cave paintings and cave engravings and cave sculptures and dance steps in the soft clay in the caves in Western Europe, in the Aurignacian Period some 35,000 years ago, or earlier. I can't believe they did all those things and didn't also have a modern language.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Language Evolution, 1995
Language likely predates visual art, suggesting symbolic thought emerged earlier than previously thought.
In simple terms: Language is older than cave art.
Key Takeaway
Consider language origins before art.
Themes
evolution
symbolism
prehistoric culture
Mood
curious
speculative
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- anthropology
- archaeology
- education
- linguistics
Key Concepts
Cognitive archaeology
semiotics
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence links language to early art?
- How does this view affect our understanding of cognition?
A Different Perspective
We cannot be certain of precise dates; archaeological evidence is limited.
![“My colleagues in elementary particle theory in many lands [and I] are driven by the usual insatiable curiosity of the scientist, and our work is a delightful game. I am frequently astonished that it so often results in correct predictions of experimental results. How can it be that writing down a…” quote by Murray Gell-Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b04/murray-gell-mann-12560_colleagues_my-colleagues-in-elementary-particle-the_95425.jpg)
