Ludwig Wittgenstein Quotes on Truth

19 quotes

  1. It is quite impossible for a proposition to state that it itself is true. (4.442)

  2. A tautology's truth is certain, a proposition's possible, a contradiction's impossible. (Certain, possible, impossible: here we have the first indication of the scale that we need in the theory of probability.) (4.464)

  3. Propositions are truth-functions of elementary propositions. (An elementary proposition is a truth-function of itself.) (5)

  4. The difficulty in philosophy is to say no more than we know. (p. 45)

  5. 94. But I did not get my picture of the world by satisfying myself of its correctness; nor do I have it because I am satisfied of its correctness. No: it is the inherited background against which I distinguish between true and false.

  6. 205. If the true is what is grounded, then the ground is not true, nor yet false.

  7. 206. If someone asked us 'but is that true?' we might say 'yes' to him; and if he demanded grounds we might say 'I can't give you any grounds, but if you learn more you too will think the same.'

  8. If you use a trick in logic, whom can you be tricking other than yourself? (p. 24e)

  9. Kierkegaard writes: If Christianity were so easy and cozy, why should God in his Scriptures have set Heaven and Earth in motion and threatened eternal punishments? - Question: But then in that case why is this Scriptures so unclear? (p. 31e)

  10. Nothing is so difficult as not deceiving oneself. (p. 34e)

  11. To convince someone of the truth, it is not enough to state it, but rather one must find the path from error to truth. (p. 119)

  12. Every explanation is after all an hypothesis. (p. 123)

  13. A religious symbol does not rest on any opinion. And error belongs only with opinion. One would like to say: This is what took place here; laugh, if you can. (p. 123)

  14. For I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me.

  15. If a person tells me he has been to the worst places I have no reason to judge him; but if he tells me it was his superior wisdom that enabled him to go there, then I know he is a fraud.

  16. If there were a verb meaning 'to believe falsely,' it would not have any significant first person, present indicative.

  17. One often makes a remark and only later sees how true it is.

  18. Someone who knows too much finds it hard not to lie.

  19. The logic of the world is prior to all truth and falsehood.

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