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About this quote

What does it mean?
The unpublished or unwritten thoughts are often more important than the written work itself.
In plain terms
The things not written are more important than what is written.
What can you take from it?
Unwritten thoughts matter most.

Where it applies

  • writing process
  • research
  • personal reflection

Putting it to work

  • value the unseen
  • explore beyond text
  • trust intuition

Questions to consider

  • What stays unsaid?
  • Is the draft more important than final?

Another view

Unwritten thoughts can't be shared or critiqued.

More from Ludwig Wittgenstein

  1. That all elementary props are given is SHOWN by there being none having an elementary sense which is not given.

    Permalink to quote #11
  2. The whole sense of the book might be summed up the following words: what can be said at all can be said clearly, and what we cannot talk about we must pass ove…

    Permalink to quote #13
  3. Ethics and Aesthetics are one.

    Permalink to quote #10

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