Language is deeply entwined in the intellectual development of humanity itself, it accompanies the latter upon every step of its localized progression or regression; moreover, the pertinent cultural level in each case is recognizable in it. ... Language is, as it were, the external manifestation of the minds of peoples. Their language is their soul, and their soul is their language. It is impossible to conceive them ever sufficiently identical... . The creation of language is an innate necessity of humanity. It is not a mere external vehicle, designed to sustain social intercourse, but an indispensable factor for the development of human intellectual powers, culminating in the formulation of philosophical doctrine.

This distinction was cleared up by one of the leading contemporary German Humboldt scholars Jürgen Trabant in his works in both German and French. In his essay on the 'Theory of Human Education' he answered the question as to the 'demands which must be made of a nation of an age and of the human race'. 283).

Humboldt was born in Potsdam Margraviate of Brandenburg and died in Tegel Province of Brandenburg. He is especially remembered as a linguist who made important contributions to the philosophy of language and to the theory and practice of education. In particular he is widely recognized as having been the architect of the Prussian education system which was used as a model for education systems in countries such as the United States and Japan.