1874.] 217 [Emerson. 



ural science, and find the originals of almost all the words 

 which we use in speaking on ethical, metaphysical, aesthetical 

 and political subjects, and no one can be sure that he per- 

 fectly understands any of these words unless he knows them 

 in their original language. 



I dwell upon this subject, because I believe that the early 

 study of language, especially of the ancient languages, is far 

 too much undervalued. We use language, not only in our 

 communication with others, but in our own thoughts. On 

 all subjects of science, or whatever requires accurate thought, 

 we think in words, and we cannot think, even within our- 

 selves, upon any subject, without knowing the words to ex- 

 press our thoughts. He who is most fully and familiarly 

 acquainted with the richest language and the thoughts tha^ 

 have been expressed by it, has the power of becoming not 

 only a good thinker but an eloquent speaker. No greater 

 mistake can be made, in the early education of the future 

 naturalist, than the neglect to give him a full and familiar 

 acquaintance with the words by which thought can be car- 

 ried on or communicated. 1 



Agassiz's mother-tongue was French, but both this and 

 German were in common use in the Pays de Vaud. He 

 lived, for years afterwards, in several parts of Germany, and 

 thus attained, without special study, the rich language which 



1 It is a matter of the greatest satisfaction that the only true mode of learning 

 language, the natural one, by word of mouth from living teachers, is becoming 

 common ; the language itself first, and afterwards the philosophy of it — the rules. 

 It is most desirable that this mode of learning the ancient languages should be in- 

 troduced, to learn first the language, to read and understand it, and afterwards the 

 rules. Indeed I would not recommend the study even of Greek, if most or much 

 of the time given to it had to be thrown away upon the grammar. The true mode, 

 Agassiz' mode, of teaching on all subjects, is becoming more and more common. 



