Essays on Life 



the actual stone itself, but nevertheless the 

 spoken symbol and the written one each alike 

 convey with certainty the combination of ideas 

 to which we have agreed to attach them. 



The written symbol is formed with the 

 hand, appeals to the eye, leaves a material 

 trace as long as paper and ink last, can travel 

 as far as paper and ink can travel, and can be 

 imprinted on eye after eye practically ad in- 

 finitum both as regards time and space. 



The spoken symbol is formed by means of 

 various organs in or about the mouth, appeals 

 to the ear, not the eye, perishes instantly with- 

 out material trace, and if it lives at all does so 

 only in the minds of those who heard it. The 

 range of its action is no wider than that within 

 which a voice can be heard ; and every time a 

 fresh impression is wanted the type must be 

 set up anew. 



The written symbol extends infinitely, as 

 regards time and space, the range within which 

 one mind can communicate with another ; 

 it gives the writer's mind a life limited by 

 the duration of ink, paper, and readers, as 



against that of his flesh and blood body. On 



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