Quote #101

I am sitting with a philosopher in the garden; he says again and again 'I know that that's a tree', pointing to a tree that is near us. Someone else arrives and hears this, and I tell them: 'This fellow isn't insane. We are only doing philosophy.' (p. 578)

More from Ludwig Wittgenstein

  1. Hot Ziggety!
  2. 'Tell them I've had a wonderful life' (p. 579)
  3. When I am furious about something, I sometimes beat the ground or a tree with my walking stick. But I certainly do not believe that the gro…
  4. A man's thinking goes on within his consciousness in a seclusion in comparison with which any physical seclusion is an exhibition to public…
  5. His explanations of primitive practices are much cruder than the meaning of these practices themselves. (p. 131)
  6. A new word is like a fresh seed sown on the ground of the discussion.
  7. The ceremonial (hot or cold) as opposed to the haphazard (lukewarm) characterizes piety. (p. 127)
  8. A philosopher who is not taking part in discussions is like a boxer who never goes into the ring.

All Ludwig Wittgenstein quotes