--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are like people living in a country…" description: "\"We are like people living in a country whose language they know so little that, with all manner of beautiful and profound things to say, they are conde..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c9/w-somerset-maugham-237_aunt_we-are-like-people-living-in-a-country-w_1945914.jpg" --- # We are like people living in a country whose language they… ![“We are like people living in a country whose language they know so little that, with all manner of beautiful and profound things to say, they are condemned to the banalities of the conversation manual. Their brain is seething with ideas, and they can only tell you that the umbrella of the…” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c9/w-somerset-maugham-237_aunt_we-are-like-people-living-in-a-country-w_1945914.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c9/w-somerset-maugham-237_aunt_we-are-like-people-living-in-a-country-w_1945914.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c9/w-somerset-maugham-237_aunt_we-are-like-people-living-in-a-country-w_1945914.jpg) > “We are like people living in a country whose language they know so little that, with all manner of beautiful and profound things to say, they are condemned to the banalities of the conversation manual. Their brain is seething with ideas, and they can only tell you that the umbrella of the gardener's aunt is in the house.” [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our limited language restricts us to trivial talk despite rich inner thoughts. **In simple terms:** Poor language limits expression of deep ideas. Key Takeaway Seek clearer communication. Themes communication language expression creativity Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - academic writing - personal conversations - teaching - public speaking Key Concepts linguistics philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can we expand our expressive vocabulary? - What tools help translate complex thoughts into simple language? A Different Perspective Even with rich ideas, vocabulary may still be insufficient. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aunt/) [Banalities Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banalities-conversation-558224/) [Banality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banality/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Country Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country-language-341041/) [Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gardener/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-know-275359/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Manuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manuals/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) [Seething](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seething/) [Things Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-say/) [Umbrella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/umbrella/) ## Related quotes > [“Each one of us is alone in the world. He is shut in a tower of brass, and can communicate with his fellows only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/each-one-of-us-is-alone-in-the-world-he-is-shut-in-a-tower-of-brass-2/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“In fact, she rather liked it, and found that their mutual lack of language skills freed them from the banalities of conversation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-kupersmith/in-fact-she-rather-liked-it-and-found-that-their-mutual-lack-of/) [Violet Kupersmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-kupersmith/) > [In order to live in a different country, you have to love something there. You have to love something there. You have to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/in-order-to-live-in-a-different-country-you-have-to-love-something/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [I do not call the sod under my feet my country; but language-religion-government-blood-identity in these makes men of one country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/i-do-not-call-the-sod-under-my-feet-my-country-but-language-religion/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [In general, every country has the language it deserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/in-general-every-country-has-the-language-it-deserves/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I want to keep talking about my people and my country in my own language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-labaki/i-want-to-keep-talking-about-my-people-and-my-country-in-my-own/) [Nadine Labaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-labaki/) > [A country without a language is a country without a soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-pearse/a-country-without-a-language-is-a-country-without-a-soul/) [Patrick Pearse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-pearse/) > [“Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. A country without a language is a country without a soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-draig-pearse/t-r-gan-teanga-t-r-gan-anam-a-country-without-a-language-is-a-country/) [Pádraig Pearse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-draig-pearse/) > [I'd like to move to some country with a language that I dont understand, and live there for the rest of my life. Start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-like-to-move-to-some-country-with-a-language-that-i-dont/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've studied Spanish, but I need to improve. I'll probably improve when I work in the country one day. For most people, when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/i-ve-studied-spanish-but-i-need-to-improve-i-ll-probably-improve-when/) [Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/) > [Most of conflicts and tensions are due to language. Don't pay so much attention to the words. In love’s country, language doesn't have its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/most-of-conflicts-and-tensions-are-due-to-language-don-t-pay-so-much/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [Every country has its own language, but of course the whole world speaks one language the language of love from the heart, which recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/every-country-has-its-own-language-but-of-course-the-whole-world/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [In love’s country, language doesn’t have its place. Love is mute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/in-love-s-country-language-doesn-t-have-its-place-love-is-mute/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [I like manual labor. Whenever I've got waterlogged with study, I've taken a spell of it and found it spiritually invigorating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-like-manual-labor-whenever-i-ve-got-waterlogged-with-study-i-ve/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Babies and language are the essential ingredients of civilization, and speakers of language no more know where it came from than babies know where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/babies-and-language-are-the-essential-ingredients-of-civilization-and/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) ## More by W. Somerset Maugham > [“A man thinks it quite natural that he should fall out of love with a woman, but it never strikes him for a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-thinks-it-quite-natural-that-he-should-fall-out-of-love-with-a/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“A man's work reveals him. In social intercourse he gives you the surface that he wishes the world to accept, but in his book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-s-work-reveals-him-in-social-intercourse-he-gives-you-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/love-is-only-a-dirty-trick-played-on-us-to-achieve-continuation-of/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [The world is hard and cruel. We are here none knows why, and we go none knows whither. We must be very humble. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-world-is-hard-and-cruel-we-are-here-none-knows-why-and-we-go-none/) [W. 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Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Follow your inclinations with due regard to the policeman round the corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/follow-your-inclinations-with-due-regard-to-the-policeman-round-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“His love became a prison from which he longed to escape, but he had not the strength merely to open the door-that was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/his-love-became-a-prison-from-which-he-longed-to-escape-but-he-had/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I did not believe him capable of love. That is an emotion in which tenderness is an essential part, but Strickland had no tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-did-not-believe-him-capable-of-love-that-is-an-emotion-in-which/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [If only the good were a little less heavy-footed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/if-only-the-good-were-a-little-less-heavy-footed/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/perfection-has-one-grave-defect-it-is-apt-to-be-dull/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“A God that can be understood is no God. Who can explain the Infinite in words?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-god-that-can-be-understood-is-no-god-who-can-explain-the-infinite/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“My dear, you used to be quite a dish; now you're quite a tureen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/my-dear-you-used-to-be-quite-a-dish-now-you-re-quite-a-tureen/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“When people say they do not care what others thing of them, for the most part they deceive themselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/when-people-say-they-do-not-care-what-others-thing-of-them-for-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) [Explore all 840 W. Somerset Maugham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## More Aunt quotes > [“My aunt Carol hasn’t heard her say a word in the whole six years and three months of Grace’s life—not a single syllable. Carol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/my-aunt-carol-hasn-t-heard-her-say-a-word-in-the-whole-six-years-and/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was painfully shy, so my aunt suggested to my mum that me and my brother go to Stage 84, a performing arts school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cooke/i-was-painfully-shy-so-my-aunt-suggested-to-my-mum-that-me-and-my/) [Christian Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cooke/) > [“Quin took on the air of someone who has just realized it's time for the yearly visit to the spinster great-aunt in a desperate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fecteau/quin-took-on-the-air-of-someone-who-has-just-realized-it-s-time-for/) [Amy Fecteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fecteau/) > [My aunt and uncle are clearly civilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-kimmel/my-aunt-and-uncle-are-clearly-civilians/) [Jimmy Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-kimmel/) > [“Aunt Helen Beck had many intentions about her death. 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I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [My aunt got me interested in journalism - she found an old typewriter, had it worked over, put it on the dining room table,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/my-aunt-got-me-interested-in-journalism-she-found-an-old-typewriter/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [This kind of thing always amazed Ginny--people who just walked away from institutions. People who left school when they didn't see the point. 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