“In an oral culture, knowledge, once acquired, had to be constantly repeated or it would be lost: fixed, formulaic thought patterns were essential for wisdom and effective administration.”
More from Walter Ong
“Written words are residue. Oral tradition has no such residue or deposit… Though words are…”
“It is perfectly true that neither you nor I can hope to set up a program for activity…”
“The articulate remains always embedded in the inarticulate.”
“Science itself is always incomplete articulation.”