--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He had picked up languages the way most…" description: "\"He had picked up languages the way most sailors pick up diseases; languages were his gonorrhoea, his syphilis, his scurvy, his ague, his plague.\" — Sal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/salman-rushdie-153_disease_he-had-picked-up-languages-the-way-most_1948922.jpg" --- # He had picked up languages the way most sailors pick up… ![“He had picked up languages the way most sailors pick up diseases; languages were his gonorrhoea, his syphilis, his scurvy, his ague, his plague.” quote by Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/salman-rushdie-153_disease_he-had-picked-up-languages-the-way-most_1948922.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/salman-rushdie-153_disease_he-had-picked-up-languages-the-way-most_1948922.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/salman-rushdie-153_disease_he-had-picked-up-languages-the-way-most_1948922.jpg) > “He had picked up languages the way most sailors pick up diseases; languages were his gonorrhoea, his syphilis, his scurvy, his ague, his plague.” [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He obsessively consumes languages, treating them as harmful infections. **In simple terms:** He sees languages as dangerous addictions. Key Takeaway Treat language learning with balance. Themes language obsession addiction creative overload Mood cautious thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing - translation - learning new tongues - academic research Key Concepts linguistics cognitive overload artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - What limits does language overload impose? - How can one enjoy languages healthily? A Different Perspective Over‑immersion can stifle clarity and health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Plague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plague/) [Sailor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sailor/) ## Related quotes > [The world has been very careful to pick very few diseases for eradication, because it is very tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-world-has-been-very-careful-to-pick-very-few-diseases-for/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The fight against syphilis demands a fight against prostitution, against prejudices, old habits, against previous conceptions, general views among them not least the false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-fight-against-syphilis-demands-a-fight-against-prostitution/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Only 1 percent of the homosexual population in America will die of old age. 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