Physics and Philosophy (1958)
Context: The words "position" and "velocity" of an electron... seemed perfectly well defined... and in fact they were clearly defined concepts within the mathematical framework of Newtonian mechanics. But actually they were not well defined, as seen from the relations of uncertainty. One may say that regarding their position in Newtonian mechanics they were well defined, but in their relation to nature, they were not. This shows that we can never know beforehand which limitations will be put on the applicability of certain concepts by the extension of our knowledge into the remote parts of nature, into which we can only penetrate with the most elaborate tools. Therefore, in the process of penetration we are bound sometimes to use our concepts in a way which is not justified and which carries no meaning. Insistence on the postulate of complete logical clarification would make science impossible. We are reminded... of the old wisdom that one who insists on never uttering an error must remain silent.
“If we are short of grace and lack the wisdom to handle a particular situation, we may need to be silent. But we must never be political.”
Life-Study of Galatians, message 6, section 1, of Witness Lee - By Living Stream Ministry, ISBN 0-7363-0961-6
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Witness Lee 16
Chinese Christian preacher 1905–1997Related quotes
CBC Television Interview, Washington, 1960 Watch it Here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWitsAgxd8U
“We must not only obtain Wisdom: we must enjoy her.”
Source: Selected Works
“We need to get a handle on this, will you ring those fuckers.”
Brian Cowen to Mary Coughlan in the Dáil on 21 May 2008.
Cowen apology after use of f-word, RTÉ News, 21 May 2008, 2008-05-21 http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0521/dail.html,
The day Cowen will never be allowed to f-f-forget..., w:Irish Independent, 24 May 2008 http://www.independent.ie/national-news/the-day-cowen-will-never-be-allowed-to-ffforget-1385865.html,
2008
"The War Speeches of William Pitt", Oxford University Press, 1915, p. 16
Speech in the House of Commons, 17 February 1792, introducing the Budget. His prediction was a vain hope.
“To defend what we love we need a particularizing language, for we love what we particularly know.”
Life Is A Miracle : An Essay Against Modern Superstition (2000)
Context: We know enough of our own history by now to be aware that people exploit what they have merely concluded to be of value, but they defend what they love. To defend what we love we need a particularizing language, for we love what we particularly know.