Quotation
Quote by Thomas Reid
There is no greater impediment to the advancement of knowledge than the ambiguity of words.
Explore the idea
Understanding this quote
Clear language is essential for learning and discovery. When words are vague or mean different things to different people, confusion can block the progress of knowledge. The quote stresses that careful definitions and precise communication help people understand one another and build reliable ideas.
Source & trust
About this quotation
- Source
- Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man, digitized historical edition
- Format
- Official Statement
Explore the idea
Topics
“We have to invest in curiosity-driven research: research that comes from a simple desire to improve our understanding of the world.”
“Adisomad itu saya rasa sebuah nama yang universal.”
Read quote“We're talking about our reality, whatever we see when we open our window, whatever we talk to our families.”
“If we add what you know to what we know, we may end up with a fuller, better picture.”
“A story that only someone who went through it could be trusted to give.”
“About matters and things regarding these natives, and even more so with respect to their antiquity, given that we do not have teachers or doctors, it is imperative to follow their testimonies.”
“U nas jest inaczej – aktor to człowiek, który ma swój normalny, przeciętny los, ale może wypowiedzieć to, czego słowa owej wewnętrznej treści nigdy nie wyrażą, stając twarzą w twarz do twarzy podobnej.”
“English poetry is wonderful but it is not for me.”
“But I still speak German with a Lancashire accent.”
“I try to bridge those worlds.”
The Dictionary of Useful Words
When a confusing notice threatens to move a carpenter’s workshop, a library aide and a teenage volunteer learn that precise questions can protect pride as surely as any answer.
Read Story