Original Language Quotes

Gabriel Garcia Marquez is one of my all-time favorite writers. I feel spiritual when reading his words, even though they're translated. I wish desperately that I could read it in its original language. I already feel like I'm going to church when I read him; imagine if I could read it in the original.

You may translate books of science exactly. ... The beauties of poetry cannot be preserved in any language except that in which it was originally written.

Poetry cannot be translated; and, therefore, it is the poets that preserve the languages; for we would not be at the trouble to learn a language if we could have all that is written in it just as well in a translation. But as the beauties of poetry cannot be preserved in any language except that in which it was originally written, we learn the language.

Sometimes I forget when I read a book that it didn't exist in English first.

The language of sin was universal, the original Esperanto.

Yes, translation is by definition an inadequate substitute for being able to read a masterpiece in the original.

The Greek language seems different than other languages. I'm not the only person to think this. Usually, I come up with some kind of dopey metaphor for why it's different. But it seems, somehow, more original, more like being in the morning of language.

Literature belongs first and foremost to the language in which it is being written.

Dear friends, whenever you want to understand a text of Scripture, try to read the original

You should take notes whenever you hear interesting or original language.

In Italy, it is difficult to see a film in the original language because the voice actors here are a mafia.

When I'm working with German audiences, I will call on my Rilke and Goethe in the original.