This quote by Anthony Burgess talks to the power of the oppressed and their capability to create language. It suggests that those who are downtrodden, or have been oppressed, have the capacity to produce their own language, or slang, as a kind of expression. This could be viewed as a way for the oppressed to reclaim their power and develop a language that is special to them. It might also be viewed as a way to express their feelings and experiences in a manner that is not comprehended by those in power. By developing their own language, the downtrodden are able to communicate with each other and develop a sense of uniformity. This quote is a reminder that language is an effective tool which those who are oppressed can use it to their advantage. It is a reminder that language can be utilized to empower those who have been silenced and to produce a sense of neighborhood.
"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization"
"Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer"