---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This letter gives me a tongue; and were I…"
description: "\"This letter gives me a tongue; and were I not allowed to write, I should be dumb. [Lat., Praebet mihi littera linguam: Et, si non liceat scribere, mutu..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/ovid-276_authorship_this-letter-gives-me-a-tongue-and-were-i_1908332.png"
---

#  This letter gives me a tongue; and were I not allowed to…

![“This letter gives me a tongue; and were I not allowed to write, I should be dumb. [Lat., Praebet mihi littera linguam: Et, si non liceat scribere, mutus ero.]” quote by Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/ovid-276_authorship_this-letter-gives-me-a-tongue-and-were-i_1908332.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/ovid-276_authorship_this-letter-gives-me-a-tongue-and-were-i_1908332.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/ovid-276_authorship_this-letter-gives-me-a-tongue-and-were-i_1908332.png)

> “This letter gives me a tongue; and were I not allowed to write, I should be dumb. \[Lat., Praebet mihi littera linguam: Et, si non liceat scribere, mutus ero.\]”

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The Latin phrase expresses that without the ability to write, one would be mute, emphasizing the importance of language for communication.

**In simple terms:** Writing gives a voice; without it, silence.

Key Takeaway

Value and develop your communication skills.

Themes

communication language expression literacy

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

- writing practice
- public speaking
- teaching
- digital content creation

Key Concepts

linguistics philosophy creativity

Questions to Reflect On

- How does language shape your identity?
- What other ways can you express yourself?

A Different Perspective

May not apply to non‑written forms of expression.

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[Authorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authorship/) [Eros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eros/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

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> [The precarious ontological link between Logos and Eros is broken, and scientific rationality emerges as essentially neutral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-precarious-ontological-link-between-logos-and-eros-is-broken-and/)

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> [Writing, playing, composing, painting, reading, listening, looking-all require that we submit to being swept away by Eros, to a transformation of self of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/writing-playing-composing-painting-reading-listening-looking-all/)

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> [As Venus within Eros does not really aim at pleasure, so Eros does not aim at happiness. We may think he does, but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-venus-within-eros-does-not-really-aim-at-pleasure-so-eros-does-not/)

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[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

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## More by Ovid

> [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

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[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [Time is generally the best doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/time-is-generally-the-best-doctor/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

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