Architecture Quote by Rebecca West
“sentences were used by man before words and still come with the readiness of instinct to his lips. They, and not words, are the foundations of all language. ... Your cat has no words, but it has considerable feeling for the architecture of the sentence in relation to the problem of expressing climax.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Language and Instinct, 1932
The quote suggests that pre‑linguistic instincts shape the structure of sentences, and non‑human beings like cats perceive the rhythm of language without words.
In simple terms: Instinct precedes words, forming the basis of language.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the instinctual roots of communication.
Themes
language origins
instinct
non‑human cognition
Mood
reflective
curious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- writing
- animal behavior
- creative arts
Key Concepts
cognitive science
anthropology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this imply about the universality of language?
- How can we study non‑verbal linguistic intuition?
A Different Perspective
Instinctual communication can be misinterpreted as purely rational.
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