Yet it does not follow that they who have the greatest knowledge and command of words, have all they could desire in this respect.

For language is in its own nature but an imperfect instrument, and even when tuned with the greatest skill, will often be found inadequate to convey the impression with which the mind may labour.

Cicero, that great master of eloquence, frequently confessed, or declared, that words failed him.

This, however, may be thought to have been uttered as a mere figure of speech; and some may say, that the imperfection I speak of, is but an incident of the common weakness or ignorance of human nature; and that if a man always knew what to say to an other in order to persuade or confute, to encourage or terrify him, he would always succeed, and no insufficiency of this kind would ever be felt or imagined.

This also is plausible; but is the imperfection less, for being sometimes traceable to an ulterior source?
Or is it certain that human languages used by perfect wisdom, would all be perfectly competent to their common purpose?
And if some would be found less so than others, may there not be an insufficiency in the very nature of them all?
22.