A common creation demands a common sacrifice, and perhaps not the least potent argument in favour of a constructed international language is the fact that it is equally foreign, or apparently so, to the traditions of all nationalities.
- Edward Sapir Quote

A second type of direct evidence is formed by statements, whether as formal legends or personal information, regarding the age or relative sequence of events in tribal history made by the natives themselves.
- Edward Sapir Quote

A standard international language should not only be simple, regular, and logical, but also rich and creative.
- Edward Sapir Quote

As a matter of fact, a national language which spreads beyond its own confines very quickly loses much of its original richness of content and is in no better case than a constructed language.
- Edward Sapir Quote

Comparison of statements made at different periods frequently enable us to give maximal and minimal dates to the appearance of a cultural element or to assign the time limits to a movement of population.
- Edward Sapir Quote

English, once accepted as an international language, is no more secure than French has proved to be as the one and only accepted language of diplomacy or as Latin has proved to be as the international language of science.
- Edward Sapir Quote

French and German illustrate the misleading character of apparent grammatical simplicity just as well.
- Edward Sapir Quote

I am convinced that the stratigraphic method will in the future enable archaeology to throw far more light on the history of American culture than it has done in the past.
- Edward Sapir Quote

It is no secret that the fruits of language study are in no sort of relation to the labour spent on teaching and learning them.
- Edward Sapir Quote

It is quite an illusion to imagine that one adjusts to reality essentially without the use of language and that language is merely an incidental means of solving specific problems of communication or reflection.
- Edward Sapir Quote

More and more, unsolicited gifts from without are likely to be received with unconscious resentment.
- Edward Sapir Quote

National languages are all huge systems of vested interests which sullenly resist critical inquiry.
- Edward Sapir Quote

No two languages are ever sufficiently similar to be considered as representing the same social reality.
- Edward Sapir Quote

So far as the advocates of a constructed international language are concerned, it is rather to be wondered at how much in common their proposals actually have, both in vocabulary and in general spirit of procedure.
- Edward Sapir Quote

The attitude of independence toward a constructed language which all national speakers must adopt is really a great advantage, because it tends to make man see himself as the master of language instead of its obedient servant.
- Edward Sapir Quote

The psychology of a language which, in one way or another, is imposed upon one because of factors beyond one's control, is very different from the psychology of a language which one accepts of one's free will.
- Edward Sapir Quote

The supposed inferiority of a constructed language to a national one on the score of richness of connotation is, of course, no criticism of the idea of a constructed language.
- Edward Sapir Quote

These examples of the lack of simplicity in English and French, all appearances to the contrary, could be multiplied almost without limit and apply to all national languages.
- Edward Sapir Quote