“Language, as we know, is full of illogicalities.”

G. Myrdal (1951), "The Trend Towards Economic Planning." The Manchester School, 19: 1–42.
Context: The term 'economic planning' and perhaps still more bluntly 'planned economy' contains a tautology... The word 'economy' by itself implies, of course, a co-ordination of activities, directed towards a purpose. It implies a subject, a will, a plan, and a rational adaptation of means towards an end or or a goal. To add “planned” in order to indicate that this co<ordination of activities has a purpose, does not make much sense or cannot, anyhow, be good usage. Language, as we know, is full of illogicalities.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Language, as we know, is full of illogicalities." by Gunnar Myrdal?
Gunnar Myrdal photo
Gunnar Myrdal 26
Swedish economist 1898–1987

Related quotes

Hanif Kureishi photo

“They gave us the language but it is only we who know how to use it”

Hanif Kureishi (1954) English playwright, screenwriter, novelist

The Black Album, Uncle Asif, Chapter One, (1995).

Wendell Berry photo

“To defend what we love we need a particularizing language, for we love what we particularly know.”

Wendell Berry (1934) author

Life Is A Miracle : An Essay Against Modern Superstition (2000)
Context: We know enough of our own history by now to be aware that people exploit what they have merely concluded to be of value, but they defend what they love. To defend what we love we need a particularizing language, for we love what we particularly know.

Subramanya Bharathi photo

“Among all the languages we know, we do not see anywhere, any as sweet as Tamil.”

Subramanya Bharathi (1882–1921) Tamil poet

As quoted in Freedom Fighters of India, Vol. 3, Lion M. G. Agrawal (2008), "Subramaniya Bharathi", p. 235

Julian of Norwich photo

“We may never come to full knowing of God till we know first clearly our own Soul.”

Julian of Norwich (1342–1416) English theologian and anchoress

Summations, Chapter 56
Variant: We can never come to full knowing of God till we know first clearly our own Soul.

John Ruskin photo

“The secret of language is the secret of sympathy and its full charm is possible only to the gentle.”

John Ruskin (1819–1900) English writer and art critic

Lecture III
Lectures on Art (1870)

Edward Sapir photo

“Language is the most massive and inclusive art we know, a mountainous and anonymous work of unconscious generations.”

Edward Sapir (1884–1939) American linguist and anthropologist

Source: Language: an Introduction to the Study of Speech

Samuel R. Delany photo
Ursula K. Le Guin photo

Related topics