On Human Understanding and the Use of Language

"Vague and insignificant forms of speech, and abuse of language
have so long passed for mysteries of science; and hard and misapplied
words, with little or no meaning, have, by prescription, such a right
to be mistaken for deep learning and height of speculation, that
it will not be easy to persuade either those who speak or those
who hear them, that they are but the covers of ignorance, and
hindrance of true knowledge."


from An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690)

John Locke (1632-1704)