--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the tongue had not been framed for…" description: "\"If the tongue had not been framed for articulation, man would still be a beast in the forest.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_if-the-tongue-had-not-been-framed-for-ar_1328986.png" --- # If the tongue had not been framed for articulation, man… ![“If the tongue had not been framed for articulation, man would still be a beast in the forest.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_if-the-tongue-had-not-been-framed-for-ar_1328986.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_if-the-tongue-had-not-been-framed-for-ar_1328986.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_if-the-tongue-had-not-been-framed-for-ar_1328986.png) > “If the tongue had not been framed for articulation, man would still be a beast in the forest.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Language enables humanity to rise above animal instincts, allowing thought, culture, and civilization to develop. **In simple terms:** Speech distinguishes humans from beasts. Key Takeaway Cultivate thoughtful communication. Themes communication civilization humanity progress Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Education - public speaking - conflict resolution - media discourse Key Concepts Linguistics philosophy of language evolutionary anthropology Questions to Reflect On - How does speech shape societal values? - When does language hinder understanding? A Different Perspective Language can also manipulate and divide. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Articulation Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/articulation-man-4453385/) [Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast/) [Beast Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast-forest-1140321/) [Framed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/framed/) [Man Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-beast-531010/) [Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tongue/) [Tongue Framed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tongue-framed-4453384/) ## Related quotes > [“Can there be any question that the human is the least harmonious beast in the forest and the creature most toxic to the nest?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-thornhorn/can-there-be-any-question-that-the-human-is-the-least-harmonious/) [Randy Thornhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-thornhorn/) > [I think that if the beast who sleeps in man could be held down by threats of any kind, whether of jail or retribution,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/i-think-that-if-the-beast-who-sleeps-in-man-could-be-held-down-by/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [Ain't fit for man nor beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ain-t-fit-for-man-nor-beast/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Why that's a colossal fib. I'm a very kind person. I've never hurt man, beast or child. Except when I had to. I belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields-3/why-that-s-a-colossal-fib-i-m-a-very-kind-person-i-ve-never-hurt-man/) [W C Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields-3/) > [Man is evil, by nature man is a beast. People have to be educated from childhood, from kindergarten, that there should be no hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marek-edelman/man-is-evil-by-nature-man-is-a-beast-people-have-to-be-educated-from/) [Marek Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marek-edelman/) > [Though man is the only beast that can write, he has small reason to be proud of it. When he utters something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dahlberg/though-man-is-the-only-beast-that-can-write-he-has-small-reason-to-be/) [Edward Dahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dahlberg/) > [O powerful love, that in some respects makes a beast a man, in some other, a man a beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-powerful-love-that-in-some-respects-makes-a-beast-a-man-in-some/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Personal rights, universally the same, demand a government framed on the ratio of the census: property demands a government framedon the ratio of owners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/personal-rights-universally-the-same-demand-a-government-framed-on/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [What terrible questions we are learning to ask! The former men believed in magic, by which temples, cities, and men were swallowed up, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-terrible-questions-we-are-learning-to-ask-the-former-men/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Beast?" Jane murmured. "Then God make me a beast; for, man or beast, I am yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/beast-jane-murmured-then-god-make-me-a-beast-for-man-or-beast-i-am/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) > [“there is little difference between man and beast, but what ambition and glory makes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duchess-of-newcastle-margaret-cavendish/there-is-little-difference-between-man-and-beast-but-what-ambition/) [Duchess of Newcastle Margaret Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duchess-of-newcastle-margaret-cavendish/) > [His passion has aroused the best and the beast in man. And the beast waited for him in the kitchen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/his-passion-has-aroused-the-best-and-the-beast-in-man-and-the-beast/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [You've got a man-beast, and a ho-beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/you-ve-got-a-man-beast-and-a-ho-beast/) [Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/) > [“The facts are that an essential difference exists between man and beast. Human nature is sui generis; it has its own character and attributes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/the-facts-are-that-an-essential-difference-exists-between-man-and/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [Man is but a beast without it: such a glorious god is Learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/man-is-but-a-beast-without-it-such-a-glorious-god-is-learning/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [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/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Beast quotes > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou ow'st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-man-no-more-than-this-consider-him-well-thou-ow-st-the-worm-no/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [In giving us dominion over the animal kingdom God has signified His will that we subdue the beast within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/in-giving-us-dominion-over-the-animal-kingdom-god-has-signified-his/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [ No visiting angel, or explorer from another planet, could have guessed that this bland orb \[Earth\] teemed with vermin, with world-mastering, self-torturing, incipiently angelic… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/no-visiting-angel-or-explorer-from-another-planet-could-have-guessed/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [As a beast of toil an ox is fixed capital. If he is eaten, he no longer functions as an instrument of labour, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/as-a-beast-of-toil-an-ox-is-fixed-capital-if-he-is-eaten-he-no-longer/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [« He squeezed his hands into fists. I picked up a grapefruit-sized rock and handed it to him. It went flying. Home run, Beast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-squeezed-his-hands-into-fists-i-picked-up-a-grapefruit-sized-rock/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Was man made stupid to see his own stupidity? Is God by definition indifferent, beyond us all? Is the eternal truth man's fighting soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eberhart/was-man-made-stupid-to-see-his-own-stupidity-is-god-by-definition/) [Richard Eberhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eberhart/) > [When a man is treated like a beast, he says, 'After all, I'm human.' When he behaves like a beast, he says 'After all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/when-a-man-is-treated-like-a-beast-he-says-after-all-i-m-human-when/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) > [Wherever I am, I see the yoke on women in some form or another. On some it sits easy for they are but beasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-may-alcott/wherever-i-am-i-see-the-yoke-on-women-in-some-form-or-another-on-some/) [Abby May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-may-alcott/) > [“He's a beast. A monster. And he looks like he wants to devour me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/he-s-a-beast-a-monster-and-he-looks-like-he-wants-to-devour-me/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [ Antichrist is the pope and the Turk \[Muslim\] together. A beast full of life must have a body and soul. The spirit or soul… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/antichrist-is-the-pope-and-the-turk-muslim-together-a-beast-full-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [My hero among heroes is my grandmother, she's the epitome of strength and I try to mock that strength all the time. She's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeriel-miranda/my-hero-among-heroes-is-my-grandmother-she-s-the-epitome-of-strength/) [Aeriel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeriel-miranda/) > [You've heard tales of beauty and the beast. How a fair maid falls in love with a monster and sees the beauty of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-maitland/you-ve-heard-tales-of-beauty-and-the-beast-how-a-fair-maid-falls-in/) [Karen Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-maitland/) [Browse all 1,640 Beast quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the tongue had not been framed for articulation, man would still be a beast in the forest.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-the-tongue-had-not-been-framed-for-articulation-man-would-still-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beast" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-the-tongue-had-not-been-framed-for-articulation-man-would-still-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_if-the-tongue-had-not-been-framed-for-ar_1328986.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_if-the-tongue-had-not-been-framed-for-ar_1328986.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a32/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_if-the-tongue-had-not-been-framed-for-ar_1328986.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the tongue had not been framed for articulation, man would still be a beast in the forest.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the tongue had not been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-the-tongue-had-not-been-framed-for-articulation-man-would-still-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-the-tongue-had-not-been-framed-for-articulation-man-would-still-be/#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 } } ] } ```