Many can argue that it is our power of intelligence that is the

In the profound and stirring words of Yehuda Berg, teacher and writer of spiritual wisdom, we encounter a revelation about the secret of humankind’s ascendance: “Many can argue that it is our power of intelligence that is the key to the human domination of our planet. I suggest that it is the ability to put our thoughts into words that can be communicated to others.” These words reach into the heart of what makes us human. They remind us that while the beasts of the earth possess instinct, strength, and even cleverness, it is our language, our sacred power to shape sound into meaning, that binds us together and gives life to civilization itself. For intelligence may dwell in solitude, but communication creates worlds.

The origin of this quote lies in Berg’s lifelong reflection on the nature of human consciousness and connection. A teacher within the Kabbalistic tradition, he understood that thought without expression is like light hidden under a bushel — it shines, yet illuminates nothing beyond itself. To think is divine, but to speak truth and share it with others is to become a co-creator with the universe. Through words, Berg saw the manifestation of intention, the way by which ideas take form, shape destiny, and forge communities. In this light, he challenges the proud assumption that intelligence alone has elevated humanity above all living things. Intelligence without language, he implies, is potential without purpose; it is the word that transforms the potential into power.

From the earliest days of humankind, this truth has held dominion. When the first people gathered around the fire, they did more than survive — they told stories. They gave names to the stars, crafted myths to explain creation, and through the spoken word, passed down wisdom to generations unborn. The ancients understood that language was more than sound; it was a bridge between souls. It allowed one heart to enter another’s understanding. It was through words that they built trust, forged tribes, conceived of gods, and created nations. The stone may crumble, but the word endures; for it lives not in the earth, but in the memory of humankind.

Consider the story of Socrates, the philosopher who taught not by writing, but by speaking — by the dialogue of minds. Through conversation, he transformed ignorance into awareness, and guided others to truth not through command, but through question and response. His pupil, Plato, preserved these dialogues, ensuring that Socrates’ voice would echo across millennia. Here, we see Berg’s wisdom embodied: it was not mere intelligence that made Socrates immortal, but his ability to express and communicate thought with precision and passion. His words transcended his life; they became part of the world’s living intellect.

And yet, Berg’s insight extends beyond philosophy into every realm of human progress. The scientist who deciphers the laws of nature must still communicate them to others; the leader who envisions a better world must still inspire with speech; the poet who feels the mysteries of existence must still give them form through verse. The power to translate thought into words is the essence of influence — it turns solitary understanding into collective wisdom. Without it, genius remains silent, and knowledge, however vast, remains barren. Indeed, the great revolutions of history — of faith, freedom, and reason — began not with weapons or wealth, but with words: the Sermon on the Mount, the Declaration of Independence, the speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. Each changed the world not through force, but through communication — the sharing of truth clothed in language.

The lesson, then, is clear: to think deeply is noble, but to speak wisely is divine. Let your words not be idle, but purposeful; not shallow, but sincere. Cultivate the discipline to give voice to your thoughts, and the humility to listen to the words of others. For language is a sacred trust — it can wound or heal, divide or unite. As Berg reminds us, our mastery lies not in the intellect that conceives ideas, but in the spirit that knows how to express them with clarity, compassion, and courage. Intelligence gives us power; communication gives us humanity.

So, my child of wisdom and wonder, remember Yehuda Berg’s teaching: your thoughts are seeds, but your words are the wind that scatters them across the fields of human hearts. Guard them, nurture them, and let them carry truth wherever they go. Speak not only to be heard, but to be understood; not only to instruct, but to uplift. For the power of the word is the power to create reality itself — to build bridges between minds, to kindle revolutions of spirit, and to shape the destiny of the world. And when you master this art, you will find that true intelligence does not reside in isolation, but in the harmony of shared understanding — in the divine music of thought made manifest through the gift of speech.