--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: sentences were used by man before words…" description: "\"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 lang..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31d/rebecca-west-1248_architecture_sentences-were-used-by-man-before-words_2887688.jpg" --- # sentences were used by man before words and still come… ![“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…” quote by Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31d/rebecca-west-1248_architecture_sentences-were-used-by-man-before-words_2887688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31d/rebecca-west-1248_architecture_sentences-were-used-by-man-before-words_2887688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31d/rebecca-west-1248_architecture_sentences-were-used-by-man-before-words_2887688.jpg) > “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.” [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cat Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat-words-4038217/) [Climax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climax/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-cat-4038218/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Readiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readiness/) [Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation/) [Sentences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentences/) [Sentences Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentences-used-2056100/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Words Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-come/) ## Related quotes > [A sentence is made up of words, a statement is made in words… Statements are made, words or sentences are used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/a-sentence-is-made-up-of-words-a-statement-is-made-in-words/) [J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/) > [“There's power in the words that come out of your mouth. Now imagine those words coming out of your red lipsticked mouth. They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/there-s-power-in-the-words-that-come-out-of-your-mouth-now-imagine/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [The same words come from each mouth differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hirshfield/the-same-words-come-from-each-mouth-differently/) [Jane Hirshfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hirshfield/) > [But I tell you--and mark my words--you will come some day to a craggy pass in the channel, where the whole of life's stream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/but-i-tell-you-and-mark-my-words-you-will-come-some-day-to-a-craggy/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“A string of very un-angelic curse words come to mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/a-string-of-very-un-angelic-curse-words-come-to-mind/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [I've learned never to try and force words to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/i-ve-learned-never-to-try-and-force-words-to-come/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [D&V what I rep, all GP. I make it rain Shawn Kemp, GP. I make words come alive, GP. Create life with the beats,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/d-v-what-i-rep-all-gp-i-make-it-rain-shawn-kemp-gp-i-make-words-come/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [All my words come back to me in shades of mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-and-garfunkel/all-my-words-come-back-to-me-in-shades-of-mediocrity/) [Simon And Garfunkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-and-garfunkel/) > [Saying the words that come from knowledge is no sign of having it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/saying-the-words-that-come-from-knowledge-is-no-sign-of-having-it/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Saying something aloud, anything coming from my heart was more than acknowledging it; it was owning it. I needed to hear the words come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cari-kamm/saying-something-aloud-anything-coming-from-my-heart-was-more-than/) [Cari Kamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cari-kamm/) > [“I part my lips, but no words come out. I want to cry. Want to beg. Want to scream. But mostly, I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-l-martin/i-part-my-lips-but-no-words-come-out-i-want-to-cry-want-to-beg-want/) [T.L. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-l-martin/) > [Most songwriting like poetry takes a careful selection of words. Sometimes you're just channeling something and a selection of words come out that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-joy/most-songwriting-like-poetry-takes-a-careful-selection-of-words/) [Vance Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-joy/) > [When the words come, they are merely empty shells without the music. 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