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Syntax, my lad. It has been restored to the highest place in the republic.
John Steinbeck
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The importance of syntax highlights its role in clear communication and understanding.

In this quote, Steinbeck emphasizes the significance of syntax in language and thought, suggesting that the structure of our communication has been recognized as vital to society's functioning. By placing syntax in a prominent position, he points out its foundational role in conveying meaning and fostering meaningful discourse in the republic, reflecting on how language shapes our social interactions and collective identity.

Themes

SyntaxLanguageCommunicationSocietyImportance

In practice

Example use cases

In a lecture about the significance of language in society, one might quote Steinbeck to highlight the role of syntax.

More from John Steinbeck

Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.
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At one point, as Samuel urges Adam to raise his boys well regardless of the blood that might be in them, Adam tells him, "You can't make a race horse of a pig." Samuel replies, "No, but you can make a very fast pig.
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And when that crop grew, and was harvested, no man had crumbled a hot clod in his fingers and let the earth sift past his fingertips. No man had touched the seed, or lusted for the growth. Men ate what they had not raised, had no connection with the bread. The land bore under iron, and under iron gradually died; for it was not loved or hated, it had no prayers or curses.
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The comfortable people in tight houses felt pity at first, and then distaste, and finally hatred for the migrant people.
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People do not want advice - they want corroboration.
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It is one of the triumphs of the human that he can know a thing and still not believe it.
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