Words do two major things: They provide food for the mind and create light for understanding and awareness.

Rohn frames language as both nourishment and illumination. “Food for the mind” suggests that words—read, heard, or spoken—shape the quality of one’s thinking the way diet shapes the body: they supply concepts, models, and motivation that can strengthen or weaken mental habits. “Create light” emphasizes words as a tool of clarification: naming experiences, defining goals, and articulating principles can turn vague feelings into conscious understanding. The quote reflects a self-development ethic in which careful attention to what we consume (books, conversations, inner self-talk) and what we express (teaching, persuasion, encouragement) directly affects awareness and personal growth.