Who said “Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas.”?

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Samuel Johnson. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceA Dictionary of the English Language (1755), Preface

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“Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas.”
— Samuel Johnson
VerifiedA Dictionary of the English Language (1755), Preface · evidenceLanguage
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: A Dictionary of the English Language (1755), Preface.

APA

Johnson, S. (n.d.). Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25323-language-is-only-the-instrument-of-science-and/

MLA

Johnson, Samuel. “Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25323-language-is-only-the-instrument-of-science-and/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Johnson, Samuel. “Language is only the instrument of science, and words are but the signs of ideas.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25323-language-is-only-the-instrument-of-science-and/.

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