Portrait of Ludwig Wittgenstein

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Philosophy of language

Modern influential 104 sayings

Sayings by Ludwig Wittgenstein

It is not by any means clear to me, that I wish for a continuation of my life.

1914 — Letter to Bertrand Russell
Wisdom Unverifiable

I am not a religious man but I cannot help seeing every problem from a religious point of view.

1977 (published posthumously) — Culture and Value
Wisdom Unverifiable

The aspects of things that are most important for us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity.

1953 (published posthumously) — Philosophical Investigations
Wisdom Unverifiable

Genius is not a gift, but the fruit of hard work.

Approx. 1930s-1940s — Attributed, often found in collected remarks
Wisdom Unverifiable

To imagine a language is to imagine a form of life.

1953 (published posthumously) — Philosophical Investigations
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

The great difficulty is to realize that it is not I who am thinking, but the language which is thinking in me.

1977 (published posthumously) — Culture and Value
Power & Leadership Unverifiable

The problems of philosophy are not empirical problems. They are solved, rather, by looking into the workings of our language, and that in such a way as to make us recognize those workings: in despite of an urge to misunderstand them.

1953 (published posthumously) — Philosophical Investigations
Power & Leadership Unverifiable

What we are supplying are really remarks on the natural history of human beings; we are not contributing curiosities however, but observations which no one has doubted, but which have escaped remark only because they are always before our eyes.

1953 (published posthumously) — Philosophical Investigations
Educational Unverifiable

The difficulty is to stop.

1953 (published posthumously) — Philosophical Investigations
Wisdom Unverifiable

One cannot think without language.

1953 (published posthumously) — Philosophical Investigations
Wisdom Unverifiable

Meaning is use.

1953 (published posthumously) — Philosophical Investigations
Wisdom Unverifiable

The limits of empiricism are not where one would expect them to be.

1969 (published posthumously) — On Certainty
Wisdom Unverifiable

The philosopher must not be a specialist.

1977 (published posthumously) — Culture and Value
Wisdom Unverifiable

My mind is not a philosophical mind.

1914 — Letter to G.E. Moore
Wisdom Unverifiable

The greatest danger is not that our machines will rebel against us, but that they will do exactly what we tell them to do.

Approx. 1940s — Attributed, often cited in discussions of AI ethics, though precise source is debated.
Wisdom Unverifiable

Language is a labyrinth of paths. You approach from one side and know your way about; you approach the same place from another side and no longer know your way about.

1953 (published posthumously) — Philosophical Investigations
Wisdom Unverifiable

The true method of philosophy is to say nothing except what can be said, i.e. propositions of natural science.

1921 — Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus
Educational Unverifiable

An entire mythology is stored in our language.

1953 (published posthumously) — Philosophical Investigations
Wisdom Unverifiable

It is not a matter of teaching the student of philosophy new facts, but of teaching him new ways of looking at old facts.

1966 (published posthumously) — Lectures and Conversations on Aesthetics, Psychology and Religious Belief
Educational Unverifiable

The work of the philosopher consists in assembling reminders for a particular purpose.

1953 (published posthumously) — Philosophical Investigations
Inspirational Unverifiable
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