--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to understand language, spend…" description: "\"“If you want to understand language, spend less time in the library with Plato and more time on the buses with people.”\" — Plato" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/plato-103_language_if-you-want-to-understand-language-spend_3090177.jpg" --- # If you want to understand language, spend less time in the… ![“If you want to understand language, spend less time in the library with Plato and more time on the buses with people.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/plato-103_language_if-you-want-to-understand-language-spend_3090177.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/plato-103_language_if-you-want-to-understand-language-spend_3090177.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/plato-103_language_if-you-want-to-understand-language-spend_3090177.jpg) > ““If you want to understand language, spend less time in the library with Plato and more time on the buses with people.”” [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding language requires real‑world interaction, not just theoretical study. **In simple terms:** Learn language by talking to people, not just reading texts. Key Takeaway Engage with everyday speakers. Themes communication experience learning Mood curious reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - travel - public transport - street markets - community events - language exchange Key Concepts Sociolinguistics pragmatics Questions to Reflect On - How does daily conversation shape language use? - What insights are lost by avoiding real‑world practice? A Different Perspective Theory alone misses nuance and cultural context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Teachings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachings/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/any-city-however-small-is-in-fact-divided-into-two-one-the-city-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Whenever a person strives, by the help of dialectic, to start in pursuit of every reality by a simple process of reason, independent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/whenever-a-person-strives-by-the-help-of-dialectic-to-start-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Can any man be courageous who has the fear of death in him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/can-any-man-be-courageous-who-has-the-fear-of-death-in-him/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [These, then, will be some of the features of democracy... it will be, in all likelihood, an agreeable, lawless, parti-colored commonwealth, dealing with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/these-then-will-be-some-of-the-features-of-democracy-it-will-be-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Let nobody speak mischief of anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/let-nobody-speak-mischief-of-anybody/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“When I kiss Agathon my soul is on my lips, where it comes, poor thing, hoping to cross over.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-i-kiss-agathon-my-soul-is-on-my-lips-where-it-comes-poor-thing/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Hereditary honors are a noble and a splendid treasure to descendants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/hereditary-honors-are-a-noble-and-a-splendid-treasure-to-descendants/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The Earth is like one of those balls made of twelve pieces of skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-earth-is-like-one-of-those-balls-made-of-twelve-pieces-of-skin/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I have good hope that there is something after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-have-good-hope-that-there-is-something-after-death/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“He could not harm me, for I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-could-not-harm-me-for-i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“Even now I'm well aware that if I allowed myself to listen to him I couldn't resist but would have the same experience again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/even-now-i-m-well-aware-that-if-i-allowed-myself-to-listen-to-him-i/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Let no-one ignorant of geometry enter. Said to have been inscribed above the door of Plato's Academy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/let-no-one-ignorant-of-geometry-enter-said-to-have-been-inscribed/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And we shall most likely be defeated, and you will most likely be victors in the contest, if you learn so to order your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/and-we-shall-most-likely-be-defeated-and-you-will-most-likely-be/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The love of man to woman is a thing common and of course, and at first partakes more of instinct and passion than of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-love-of-man-to-woman-is-a-thing-common-and-of-course-and-at-first/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Too much attention to health is a hindrance to learning, to invention, and to studies of any kind, for we are always feeling suspicious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/too-much-attention-to-health-is-a-hindrance-to-learning-to-invention/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More by Plato > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [You may be sure, dear Crito, that inaccurate language is not only in itself a mistake: it implants evil in men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/you-may-be-sure-dear-crito-that-inaccurate-language-is-not-only-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-men-learn-this-it-will-implant-forgetfulness-in-their-souls-they/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/any-city-however-small-is-in-fact-divided-into-two-one-the-city-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-as-nobody-may-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The love of man to woman is a thing common and of course, and at first partakes more of instinct and passion than of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-love-of-man-to-woman-is-a-thing-common-and-of-course-and-at-first/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“He was a wise man who invented God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-was-a-wise-man-who-invented-god/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [For let me tell you, that the more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-let-me-tell-you-that-the-more-the-pleasures-of-the-body-fade-away/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“What shall we say about those spectators, then, who can see a plurality of beautiful things, but not beauty itself, and who are incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/what-shall-we-say-about-those-spectators-then-who-can-see-a-plurality/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Geometry existed before creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/geometry-existed-before-creation/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so that nobody will believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-that-nobody-will-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We must, if we are to be consistent, and if we re to have a real pedigree herd, mate the best of our men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/we-must-if-we-are-to-be-consistent-and-if-we-re-to-have-a-real/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Explore all 1,278 Plato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More Language quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. 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Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/) TimBur > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The words for what I want to say right now don't exist. Everything sounds…so cliché.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/the-words-for-what-i-want-to-say-right-now-don-t-exist-everything/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Words can kill you trust towards someone, mind you language people, every reaction had its consequence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-can-kill-you-trust-towards-someone-mind-you-language-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Finxerunt animi, raro et perpauca loquentis. (To action little, less to words inclinded.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/finxerunt-animi-raro-et-perpauca-loquentis-to-action-little-less-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) [Browse all 21,951 Language quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you want to understand language, spend less time in the library with Plato and more time on the buses with people.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-you-want-to-understand-language-spend-less-time-in-the-library/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Language" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-you-want-to-understand-language-spend-less-time-in-the-library/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/plato-103_language_if-you-want-to-understand-language-spend_3090177.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/plato-103_language_if-you-want-to-understand-language-spend_3090177.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/plato-103_language_if-you-want-to-understand-language-spend_3090177.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you want to understand language, spend less time in the library with Plato and more time on the buses…” — Plato", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Plato", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If you want to understand language,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-you-want-to-understand-language-spend-less-time-in-the-library/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-you-want-to-understand-language-spend-less-time-in-the-library/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```