“Your questions refer to words; so I have to talk about words.
You say: The point isn't the word, but its meaning, and you think of the meaning as a thing of the same kind as the word, though also different from the word. Here the word, there the meaning.”

— Ludwig Wittgenstein, book Philosophical Investigations

§ 120
Philosophical Investigations (1953)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Sept. 27, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Your questions refer to words; so I have to talk about words. You say: The point isn't the word, but its meaning, and …" by Ludwig Wittgenstein?

Ludwig Wittgenstein photo

Ludwig Wittgenstein228

Austrian-British philosopher 1889–1951

Related quotes

“I love words very much. I've always loved to talk, and I've always love words — the words that rest in your mouth, what words mean and how you taste them and so on. And for me the spoken word can be used almost as a gesture.”

Martha Graham (1894–1991) American dancer and choreographer

New York Times interview (1985)

“The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.”

Terry Pratchett book Lords and Ladies

Source: Lords and Ladies

“Words are for meaning: when you've got the meaning, you can forget the words.”

Zhuangzi (-369–-286 BC) classic Chinese philosopher

Variant: "Where can I find a man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to."
Context: A trap is for fish: when you've got the fish, you can forget the trap. A snare is for rabbits: when you've got the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words are for meaning: when you've got the meaning, you can forget the words. Where can I find someone who's forgotten words so I can have a word with him?...

“"Don't worry. I can teach you every word that you need to know right now. One of them is fiesta.
"What does that mean?"
"It means 'party' Another important word is juerga.
"What does that word mean? […] Magnus, does that word also mean 'party?'"
"I would apologize, except that I feel no regret at all."”

Cassandra Clare The Bane Chronicles

Magnus Bane and Ragnor Fell in 1791, p. 9.
The Bane Chronicles, What Really Happened in Peru (2013)

“Be Impeccable with Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.”

Miguel Ángel Ruiz book The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements (1997)

“As though adding the word democratic in front of a word changes what it means.”

Steven Crowder (1987) American actor

Source: https://www.prageru.com/video/democratic-socialism-is-still-socialism/

“Words take their meaning from the original word.”

Michael Elmore-Meegan (1959) British humanitarian

All Will be Well (2004)

“In the field of education. I refer to the meaning of the word "basic," …the meaning given to this word by some educators is not its "real" meaning. The word "basic,"… has been assigned certain meanings in order to further an education philosophy which is thought to be both sensible and effective…. neither you nor I are under any obligation to accept their definition of what is "basic." …In short, the definition of something is usually the starting point of a dispute, not the settlement.”

Neil Postman (1931–2003) American writer and academic

Language Education in a Knowledge Context (1980)

“For a large class of cases — though not for all — in which we employ the word meaning it can be explained thus: the meaning of a word is its use in the language.”

Ludwig Wittgenstein book Philosophical Investigations

§ 43, this has often been quoted as simply: The meaning of a word is its use in the language.
Philosophical Investigations (1953)

“You know, I found out recently that the word "heretic" comes from the Greek word "airetikós", meaning "able to choose" — which pretty much says it all, don't you think?”

Pat Condell (1949) Stand-up comedian, writer, and Internet personality

"The arrogance of clergy" (2 October 2009) http://youtube.com/watch?v=STlYN5KCiWg&feature=sub <br class="br">2009

Related topics