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About this quote

What does it mean?
Thoughts are the core carriers of meaning in propositions.
In plain terms
A thought makes a sentence important.
What can you take from it?
Meaning comes from what we think, not just words.

Where it applies

  • writing
  • communication
  • logic

Putting it to work

  • clarify thoughts
  • improve writing

Questions to consider

  • Can a thought exist clearly without words?
  • How much of your message is lost in translation?

Another view

It ignores that words and context also shape meaning independently.

More from Ludwig Wittgenstein

  1. The logical picture of the facts is the thought. (3)

    Permalink to quote #17
  2. Philosophy aims at the logical clarification of thoughts. Philosophy is not a body of doctrine but an activity. A philosophical work consists essentially of el…

    Permalink to quote #19
  3. What is the case, the fact, is the existence of atomic facts. (2)

    Permalink to quote #16

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