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Dialectic, which is the parent of logic, came itself from rhetoric. Rhetoric is in turn the child of the myths and poetry of ancient Greece. That is so historically, and that is so by any application of common sense. The poetry and the myths are the response of a prehistoric people to the universe around them made on the basis of Quality. It is Quality, not dialectic, which is the generator of everything we know.

Robert M. Pirsig#67

QualityCultureHistoryMythEpistemology

About this quote

What does it mean?
Logic originates from rhetoric, which stems from myth and poetry; ultimately, Quality—not dialectic—drives knowledge.
In plain terms
Quality, not logical argument, is the root of what we know.
What can you take from it?
Seek underlying quality rather than just form.

Where it applies

  • creative writing
  • scientific theory

Putting it to work

  • evaluate the quality of ideas before formalizing them

Questions to consider

  • How does Quality manifest in your field?

Another view

The chain of origins is a broad historical claim that may oversimplify.

More from Robert M. Pirsig

  1. Once it's stated that 'the dialectic comes before anything else,' this statement itself becomes a dialectical entity, subject to dialectical question.

    Permalink to quote #66
  2. Quality is better seen up at the timberline than here obscured by smoky windows and oceans of words, and he sees that what he is talking about can never really…

    Permalink to quote #68
  3. When a shepherd goes to kill a wolf, and takes his dog to see the sport, he should take care to avoid mistakes. The dog has certain relationships to the wolf t…

    Permalink to quote #65

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