This quote suggests a profound hierarchy of communication and expression, starting with the mind, moving to speech, and then to writing. The mind, being the origin of all thoughts and ideas, is the primary source of our expressions. Speech is the first level of externalizing those thoughts, making them accessible to others. It’s a direct, immediate form of communication that represents our thoughts in a verbal format. However, speech is fleeting and transient, it exists in the moment and then it’s gone.

Writing, on the other hand, is a more deliberate and lasting form of communication. It takes the spoken words, the outward expressions of the mind, and gives them permanence. In writing, we can refine our thoughts, organize them, and present them in a way that can be revisited, analyzed, and shared across time and space. Writing is the representation of speech, but it also transcends it, allowing for a more nuanced and enduring expression of our minds.

In today’s world, this idea is more relevant than ever. With the rise of digital communication, our thoughts are often immediately translated into written words through texts, emails, and social media posts. This makes our written words a crucial representation of our minds. Therefore, it’s important to be mindful of how we express ourselves in writing, as it can have a lasting impact on how others perceive us.

In terms of personal development, understanding this hierarchy can help us become more effective communicators. By recognizing the different roles of speech and writing, we can choose the most appropriate form of communication for different situations. This might mean speaking up in a meeting to share a spontaneous idea, or taking the time to write a thoughtful email when a more detailed and permanent record of our thoughts is needed. Additionally, developing our skills in both speech and writing can help us to better express our thoughts, making us more understood and valued in both personal and professional settings.