...the tendency of all men who ever tried to write or talk … - Ludwig Wittgenstein

" "
...the tendency of all men who ever tried to write or talk Ethics or Religion was to run against the boundaries of language. This running against the walls of our cage is perfectly, absolutely hopeless.

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Lecture on Ethics · March 18, 2026 Verified in 1 source Sign up to see the complete provenance

English

Collect this quote

About Ludwig Wittgenstein

Ludwig Wittgenstein (26 April 1889 – 29 April 1951) was an Austrian-born philosopher who spent much of his life in England.

Biography information from Wikiquote

Also Known As

Native Name: Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein

Alternative Names: Ludwig Joseph Johann Wittgenstein • Wittgenstein

All quotes from Ludwig Wittgenstein Similar Quotes by other Originators

Originators like Ludwig Wittgenstein:

Alfred North Whitehead Umberto Eco William James Albert Einstein Immanuel Kant

Additional quotes by Ludwig Wittgenstein

The form is the possibility of the structure.

One age misunderstands another; and a petty age misunderstands all the others in its own nasty way.

It is not how things are in the world that is mystical, but that it exists. (6.44)

...the tendency of all men who ever tried to write or talk Ethics or Religion was to run against the boundaries of language. This running against the… - Ludwig Wittgenstein

About Ludwig Wittgenstein

Also Known As

Additional quotes by Ludwig Wittgenstein