Full Idea
If a lion could talk, we could not understand him.
Gist of Idea
If a lion could talk, we could not understand him
Source
Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations [1952], II.xi)
Book Reference
Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Philosophical Investigations', ed/tr. Anscombe,E. [Blackwell 1972], p.223
A Reaction
How does he know these things?! We could at least know whether they talked or merely grunted, by studying their correlated behaviour. Cf. dolphins. I think he is wrong. All talk is understandable to a degree, even God's.