--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To suppose that man without language…" description: "\"To suppose that man without language taught himself to speak, seems to me as absurd as it would be to suppose that without legs he could teach himself ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/noah-webster-8440_absurd_to-suppose-that-man-without-language-tau_2891613.jpg" --- # To suppose that man without language taught himself to… ![“To suppose that man without language taught himself to speak, seems to me as absurd as it would be to suppose that without legs he could teach himself to walk. Language, therefore, must have been the immediate gift of God.” quote by Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/noah-webster-8440_absurd_to-suppose-that-man-without-language-tau_2891613.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/noah-webster-8440_absurd_to-suppose-that-man-without-language-tau_2891613.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/noah-webster-8440_absurd_to-suppose-that-man-without-language-tau_2891613.jpg) > “To suppose that man without language taught himself to speak, seems to me as absurd as it would be to suppose that without legs he could teach himself to walk. Language, therefore, must have been the immediate gift of God.” [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Language is a divine gift, not self‑taught; humanity could not develop speech without it. **In simple terms:** Language is God‑given, not learned alone. Key Takeaway Recognize language as a fundamental, shared tool. Themes language divine origin human nature Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - communication - cultural development Key Concepts theology linguistics evolution Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape identity? - What would a world without language look like? A Different Perspective Assumes a deity; secular perspectives differ. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) [Gift from god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift-from-god/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Language, as well as the faculty of speech, was the immediate gift of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/language-as-well-as-the-faculty-of-speech-was-the-immediate-gift-of/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [It is strangely absurd to suppose that a million of human beings, collected together, are not under the same moral laws which bind each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-strangely-absurd-to-suppose-that-a-million-of-human-beings/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is absurd to suppose, if this is God's world, that men must always be selfish barbarians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fletcher-dole/it-is-absurd-to-suppose-if-this-is-god-s-world-that-men-must-always/) [Charles Fletcher Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fletcher-dole/) > [Mama had an appreciation of the language. She taught me a love of words, of how they should be used and how they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/mama-had-an-appreciation-of-the-language-she-taught-me-a-love-of/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [Gender is the poetry each of us makes out of the language we are taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-feinberg/gender-is-the-poetry-each-of-us-makes-out-of-the-language-we-are/) [Leslie Feinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-feinberg/) > [I say salvation is the free gift of God. It is God's free grace, I preach unto you, not of works, lest anyone should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/i-say-salvation-is-the-free-gift-of-god-it-is-god-s-free-grace-i/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) > [My physique? It is a gift from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romelu-lukaku/my-physique-it-is-a-gift-from-god/) [Romelu Lukaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romelu-lukaku/) > [“When you discover in yourself something that is a gift from God, you have to claim it and not let it be taken away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-brown/when-you-discover-in-yourself-something-that-is-a-gift-from-god-you/) Tommy Brown > [Every day without exception - is a gift from God, entrusted to us to use for His glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/every-day-without-exception-is-a-gift-from-god-entrusted-to-us-to-use/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“Every gift from God is good indeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-stimpson/every-gift-from-god-is-good-indeed/) [Michelle Stimpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-stimpson/) > [Twas a special gift of God that speech was given to mankind; for through the Word, and not by force, wisdom governs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/twas-a-special-gift-of-god-that-speech-was-given-to-mankind-for/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I have the gift of laughter. I can make people laugh at will. In good times and in bad. And that I don't question.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-hackett/i-have-the-gift-of-laughter-i-can-make-people-laugh-at-will-in-good/) [Buddy Hackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-hackett/) > [I look upon life as a gift from God. I did nothing to earn it. Now that the time is coming to give it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/i-look-upon-life-as-a-gift-from-god-i-did-nothing-to-earn-it-now-that/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [The Internet offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity. This is something truly good, a gift from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-internet-offers-immense-possibilities-for-encounter-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Free agency is a gift of God…The world does not comprehend the significance of that divine gift to the individual. It is as inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/free-agency-is-a-gift-of-god-the-world-does-not-comprehend-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) ## More by Noah Webster > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [The freedom of the press is a valuable privilege; but the abuse of it, in this country, is a frightful evil. The licentiousness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-freedom-of-the-press-is-a-valuable-privilege-but-the-abuse-of-it/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [EDUCATION, n. The bringing up, as of a child; instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/education-n-the-bringing-up-as-of-a-child-instruction-formation-of/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [The education of youth, an employment of more consequence than making laws and preaching the gospel, because it lays the foundation on which both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-education-of-youth-an-employment-of-more-consequence-than-making/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Every civil government is based upon some religion or philosophy of life. Education in a nation will propagate the religion of that nation. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/every-civil-government-is-based-upon-some-religion-or-philosophy-of/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [The virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities, and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-virtues-of-men-are-of-more-consequence-to-society-than-their/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [It is alleged by men of loose principles , or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/it-is-alleged-by-men-of-loose-principles-or-defective-views-of-the/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [ \[T\]he Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis, or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government. . . . and I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/t-he-christian-religion-in-its-purity-is-the-basis-or-rather-the/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [An immense effect may be produced by small powers wisely and steadily directed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/an-immense-effect-may-be-produced-by-small-powers-wisely-and-steadily/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [The Moral Law is summarily contained in the Decalogue or Ten Commandments; written by the finger of God on two tablets of stone, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-moral-law-is-summarily-contained-in-the-decalogue-or-ten/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [It is the sincere desire of the writer that our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/it-is-the-sincere-desire-of-the-writer-that-our-citizens-should-early/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Knowledge, learning, talents are not necessarily connected with sound moral and political principles… And eminent abilities, accompanied with depravity of heart, render the possessor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/knowledge-learning-talents-are-not-necessarily-connected-with-sound/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Might his last glance behold the glorious ensign of the Republic still full high advanced, its arms and trophies streaming in all their original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/might-his-last-glance-behold-the-glorious-ensign-of-the-republic/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Ability is active power, or power to perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/ability-is-active-power-or-power-to-perform/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [The Bible was America's basic textbook in all fields.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-bible-was-america-s-basic-textbook-in-all-fields/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) [Explore all 81 Noah Webster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) ## More Absurd quotes > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is human nature to think wisely and to act in an absurd fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-human-nature-to-think-wisely-and-to-act-in-an-absurd-fashion/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought to myself: if it’s true that every person has a star in the sky, mine must be distant, dim, and absurd. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/i-thought-to-myself-if-it-s-true-that-every-person-has-a-star-in-the/) [Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/) > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To deprecate human reason by saying that none of us is or can be omniscient is absurd, for it takes an impossible standard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/to-deprecate-human-reason-by-saying-that-none-of-us-is-or-can-be/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/the-absurd-duty-too-often-inculcated-of-obeying-a-parent-only-on/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-workman-of-today-works-every-day-in-his-life-at-the-same-tasks/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I was once part of a Christmas cabaret. I sang 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.' I tap-danced. I had a ten-gallon hat. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-was-once-part-of-a-christmas-cabaret-i-sang-i-saw-mommy-kissing/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [Solitude produces originality, bold and astonishing beauty, poetry. But solitude also produces perverseness, the disproportianate, the absurd and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/solitude-produces-originality-bold-and-astonishing-beauty-poetry-but/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) [Browse all 1,644 Absurd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To suppose that man without language taught himself to speak, seems to me as absurd as it would be to suppose that without legs he could teach himself to walk. 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