Human beings are bizarre creatures, not only in terms of evolution as in Sapiens, but also in terms of our societal structures and unique linguistic creations. Of all the beasts on Earth, only human beings are capable of sophisticated and abstract language. Yet, of all these beasts, only humans struggle to convey heartfelt messages. We stand silent and reserved when near a person we admire, while inside we are screaming. We are afraid to speak when it really matters, when whatever we say can really change our lives. However, we blabber on incessantly when saying a simple word or two would suffice. Language is one of our greatest creations, nevertheless, it has complicated our discourse to point of maelstrom, to a point where a simple message becomes turbid with convoluted implications. The fear of being spurned hinders our ability to express our hearts’ most profound desires. It is that fear that must be dissolved in order to further our lives most precious aspirations. However, I do not doubt the power of words and the freedom they bring to human cognition. Their cogency does not come from the speaker, but from the listener. The power of words is a direct result of their ability to make the listener indulge in the contemplation of their meaning.
But words are things, and a small drop of ink
Falling, like dew, upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.
Lord Byron
Dossier
“Sapiens,” by Yuval Noah Harari, 2014. This book goes through the history of humankind based on the premise that humans’ ability for fictive language and effective group communication is our only fundamental advantage.