“Necessity resides in the way we talk about things, not in the things we talk about.”
Ways of Paradox and Other Essays (1976), p. 174
1970s
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Willard van Orman Quine 25
American philosopher and logician 1908–2000Related quotes

Rejoinder when told that he couldn't talk about physics, because "nobody [at this table] knows anything about it."
Part 5: "The World of One Physicist", "Alfred Nobel's Other Mistake", p. 310.
Quoted in Handbook of Economic Growth (2005) by Philippe Aghion and Steven N. Durlauf.
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (1985)
“We need to the right thing. Take this seriously, not to verbalize about it, and not to talk.”
Source: Fort Portal Bishop calls for more environmental protection awareness https://www.ntv.co.ug/ug/news/national/fort-portal-bishop-calls-for-more-environmental-protection-awareness-3328498 (March 19, 2021)
Hermann Bondi (1980), Relativity and Common Sense: A New Approach to Einstein, p. 65
Source: Passion and Purity: Learning to Bring Your Love Life Under Christ's Control

“I hate books; they only teach us to talk about things we know nothing about.”
“No matter what we talk about, we are talking about ourselves”
Source: I Touch the Earth, the Earth Touches Me

Giles Ahead Time Out - London's Living Guide January 9-16 2002 http://www.gilesfanfic.de/default.php?url=artikel_11_oton