--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No one complains of the rules of Grammar…" description: "\"No one complains of the rules of Grammar as fettering Language; because it is understood that correct use is not founded on Grammar, but Grammar on cor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/richard-whately-3892_complaining_no-one-complains-of-the-rules-of-grammar_1293681.jpg" --- # No one complains of the rules of Grammar as fettering… ![“No one complains of the rules of Grammar as fettering Language; because it is understood that correct use is not founded on Grammar, but Grammar on correct use. A just system of Logic or of Rhetoric is analogous, in this respect, to Grammar.” quote by Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/richard-whately-3892_complaining_no-one-complains-of-the-rules-of-grammar_1293681.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/richard-whately-3892_complaining_no-one-complains-of-the-rules-of-grammar_1293681.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9c/richard-whately-3892_complaining_no-one-complains-of-the-rules-of-grammar_1293681.jpg) > “No one complains of the rules of Grammar as fettering Language; because it is understood that correct use is not founded on Grammar, but Grammar on correct use. A just system of Logic or of Rhetoric is analogous, in this respect, to Grammar.” [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grammar rules are seen as constraints, but they exist to serve clear communication, not to dominate language. **In simple terms:** Grammar guides language, not the reverse. Key Takeaway Use language first, then apply grammar. Themes language grammar logic rhetoric Mood analytical reflective Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - writing - editing - public speaking - teaching - law Key Concepts communication structure clarity Questions to Reflect On - How does grammar support clear expression? - When might strict grammar hinder creativity? A Different Perspective Grammar can become overly prescriptive, stifling creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grammar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grammar/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) [Rhetoric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhetoric/) ## Related quotes > [Do not be surprised when those who ignore the rules of grammar also ignore the law. After all, the law is just so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/do-not-be-surprised-when-those-who-ignore-the-rules-of-grammar-also/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“I don't know the rules of grammar. If you're trying to persuade people to do something, or buy something, it seems to me you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/i-don-t-know-the-rules-of-grammar-if-you-re-trying-to-persuade-people/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [I never actually learned the rules of grammar, relying instead only on what sounded right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-never-actually-learned-the-rules-of-grammar-relying-instead-only-on/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [The rules of grammar exist in large part to permit readers and writers to operate from a shared set of expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/the-rules-of-grammar-exist-in-large-part-to-permit-readers-and/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [He who writes must master the rules of grammar. He who shoots photographs needs only to follow the instructions as given by the camera……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vil-m-flusser/he-who-writes-must-master-the-rules-of-grammar-he-who-shoots/) [Vilem Flusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vil-m-flusser/) > [Bad music is the attempt to imitate something that has very strong rules and grammar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-grante/bad-music-is-the-attempt-to-imitate-something-that-has-very-strong/) [Carlo Grante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-grante/) > [Those that will combat use and custom by the strict rules of grammar do but jest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/those-that-will-combat-use-and-custom-by-the-strict-rules-of-grammar/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“The rules of grammar are just as important as the rules of engagement in war. Without them, we are barbarians,” I argued.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayne-silvers/the-rules-of-grammar-are-just-as-important-as-the-rules-of-engagement/) [Shayne Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayne-silvers/) > [By a generative grammar I mean simply a system of rules that in some explicit and well-defined way assigns structural descriptions to sentences. Obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/by-a-generative-grammar-i-mean-simply-a-system-of-rules-that-in-some/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Speakers who have grown up in the American community unconsciously know its rules about taking turns in conversations-in the same way that they know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-farb/speakers-who-have-grown-up-in-the-american-community-unconsciously/) [Peter Farb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-farb/) > [Every English poet should master the rules of grammar before he attempts to bend or break them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/every-english-poet-should-master-the-rules-of-grammar-before-he/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“Not long ago, I advertised for perverse rules of grammar, along the lines of "Remember to never split an infinitive" and "The passive voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/not-long-ago-i-advertised-for-perverse-rules-of-grammar-along-the/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [I don't know the rules of grammar... If you're trying to persuade people to do something, or buy something, it seems to me you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/i-don-t-know-the-rules-of-grammar-if-you-re-trying-to-persuade-people-2/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [If you want to break the rules of grammar, first learn the rules of grammar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-you-want-to-break-the-rules-of-grammar-first-learn-the-rules-of/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [If something's public then it seems like the important thing is the person in that public. And the notion of rhetoric. I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/if-something-s-public-then-it-seems-like-the-important-thing-is-the/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) ## More by Richard Whately > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Of Rhetoric various definitions have been given by different writers; who, however, seem not so much to have disagreed in their conceptions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-rhetoric-various-definitions-have-been-given-by-different-writers/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [The power of duly appreciating little things belongs to a great mind...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/the-power-of-duly-appreciating-little-things-belongs-to-a-great-mind/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Falsehood, like the dry-rot, flourishes the more in proportion as air and light are excluded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/falsehood-like-the-dry-rot-flourishes-the-more-in-proportion-as-air/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Of all hostile feelings, envy is perhaps the hardest to be subdued, because hardly any one owns it even to himself, but looks out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-all-hostile-feelings-envy-is-perhaps-the-hardest-to-be-subdued/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [knowledge of our duties is the most useful part of philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/knowledge-of-our-duties-is-the-most-useful-part-of-philosophy/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Geologists complain that when they want specimens of the common rocks of a country, they receive curious spars; just so, historians give us the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/geologists-complain-that-when-they-want-specimens-of-the-common-rocks/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Reason can no more influence the will, and operate as a motive, than the eyes which show a man his road can enable him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/reason-can-no-more-influence-the-will-and-operate-as-a-motive-than/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Eloquence is relative. One can no more pronounce on the eloquence of any composition than the wholesomeness of a medicine, without knowing for whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/eloquence-is-relative-one-can-no-more-pronounce-on-the-eloquence-of/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Falsehood, like poison, will generally be rejected when administered alone; but when blended with wholesome ingredients may be swallowed unperceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/falsehood-like-poison-will-generally-be-rejected-when-administered/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Happiness is no laughing matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/happiness-is-no-laughing-matter/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Though not always called upon to condemn ourselves, it is always safe to suspect ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/though-not-always-called-upon-to-condemn-ourselves-it-is-always-safe/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Even supposing there were some spiritual advantage in celibacy, it ought to be completely voluntary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/even-supposing-there-were-some-spiritual-advantage-in-celibacy-it/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Some men's reputation seems like seed-wheat, which thrives best when brought from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/some-men-s-reputation-seems-like-seed-wheat-which-thrives-best-when/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [He who is not aware of his ignorance will be only misled by his knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/he-who-is-not-aware-of-his-ignorance-will-be-only-misled-by-his/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) [Explore all 119 Richard Whately quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) ## More Complaining quotes > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/) [Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/) > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Do not complain of life's unfairness. It is never fair - at best it is impartial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/do-not-complain-of-life-s-unfairness-it-is-never-fair-at-best-it-is/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [But if people will laugh at my work and keep a sound roof over my head, who am I to complain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-burke/but-if-people-will-laugh-at-my-work-and-keep-a-sound-roof-over-my/) [Billie Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-burke/) > [I think we need to talk about mental illness a lot more. People complain about tax dollars and say we don't have the money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-think-we-need-to-talk-about-mental-illness-a-lot-more-people/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. Ivory is the soap that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/to-become-a-celebrity-is-to-become-a-brand-name-there-is-ivory-soap/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [You shouldn't get to live in society and give nothing back. People complain about their taxes, yet they do nothing for the community. 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