Get Started
Home Authors Tags

"بدون كلمات بدون كتابة وبدون كتب لن تكون هناك تاريخ ولن يكون هناك مفهوم للإنسانية"

Jose Saramago
Jose Saramago Novelist
Translations
🇺🇸 English 🇨🇳 中文 🇪🇸 Español 🇪🇬 العربية 🇫🇷 Français 🇮🇷 فارسی 🇯🇵 日本語
Quote meaning
The essence of this quote is that our understanding of history and the very concept of what it means to be human are deeply rooted in our ability to communicate through words, writing, and books. Imagine if we didn't have these tools. How would we pass down stories, knowledge, and experiences? It would be nearly impossible. We'd lose the thread that connects us to our ancestors and to each other.

Historically, this idea can be traced back to the earliest civilizations. Think about the ancient Egyptians and their hieroglyphics, or the Sumerians with their cuneiform script. These early forms of writing were revolutionary. Before them, knowledge and culture were primarily oral—passed down through stories and songs. This oral tradition was valuable, no doubt, but it was also fleeting. Once writing came into play, people could record their thoughts, laws, and histories in a permanent form. They could share ideas across distances and generations. Writing allowed for a collective memory that spanned beyond the lifespan of a single person.

Take the example of the Rosetta Stone. This artifact, discovered in 1799, was the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics. Because it had the same text inscribed in three different scripts, scholars were able to unlock the secrets of a long-lost language and, by extension, a significant part of ancient Egyptian culture and history. Without that stone, much of what we know about ancient Egypt might still be a mystery.

So, what's the practical takeaway here? If you want to ensure that your ideas, stories, and experiences live on, write them down. It doesn't have to be in a formal book or an elaborate manuscript. Even a simple journal can be a powerful legacy. Writing helps us process our thoughts and feelings, and it provides a tangible record that others can learn from in the future.

Now, picture this: a grandmother sits down with her granddaughter and opens up an old, tattered notebook. Inside, it's filled with handwritten recipes, notes about special occasions, and little snippets of wisdom. The grandmother explains how her own mother started this notebook, and how it’s been passed down through the generations. For the granddaughter, this isn't just a collection of papers—it's a connection to her past, a way to understand her roots and the people who've shaped her family.

Imagine if that notebook didn't exist. Those recipes and stories might be lost forever, scattered like leaves in the wind. But because someone took the time to write them down, they’ve become a bridge between the past and the present.

In our digital age, we have even more tools at our disposal. Blogs, social media, digital journals—these can all serve as modern-day equivalents of that family notebook. So, take a moment to jot down your thoughts, your experiences, your dreams. Trust me, future you (and future generations) will thank you.
Related tags
Books Civilization Communication Culture Education History Humanity Knowledge Language Writing
MORE QUOTES BY Jose Saramago
FEATURED QUOTES
Surprise me with another quote
Instagram Icon Facebook Icon X Icon Threads Icon