Brain Quote by Oliver Sacks
“Much more of the brain is devoted to movement than to language. Language is only a little thing sitting on top of this huge ocean of movement.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: “The Brain and Its Music”, 2005
The brain allocates far more resources to movement than to language, making language a small overlay on a massive motor system.
In simple terms: Movement dominates brain resources; language is a tiny addition.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the body’s influence on thought.
Themes
neuroscience
language
movement
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- learning a new sport
- public speaking
- rehabilitation
- dance therapy
Key Concepts
Embodied cognition
neuroplasticity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does bodily awareness shape your communication?
- Can you improve language by training movement?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on movement may undervalue linguistic nuance.
![“Language [can] be expressed . . . by movements of the hands and face just as well as by the small, sound-generating movements of the throat and mouth. Then the first criterion for language that I had learned as a student—it is spoken and heard—was wrong; and, more important, language did not…” quote by Harlan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5d1/harlan-lane-110195_ability_language-can-be-expressed-by-movements-o_1734575.jpg)
