---
title: "2 Discussing Quotes By J. L. Austin"
description: "2 Discussing quotes by J. L. Austin. Plus more from J. L. Austin and more Discussing sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/j-l-austin-17560_discussing_we-become-obsessed-with-truth-when-discu_184698.png"
---

> [We become obsessed with 'truth' when discussing statements, just as we become obsessed with 'freedom' when discussing conduct...Like freedom, truth is a bare minimum or an illusory ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/we-become-obsessed-with-truth-when-discussing-statements-just-as-we/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/j-l-austin-17560_discussing_we-become-obsessed-with-truth-when-discu_184698.png)

> [What is truth?" said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer. Pilate was in advance of his time. For "truth" itself is an abstract noun, a camel, that is, of a logical construction, which cannot get past the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/what-is-truth-said-jesting-pilate-and-would-not-stay-for-an-answer/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/j-l-austin-17560_abstract_what-is-truth-said-jesting-pilate-and-wo_2082836.jpg)

## More by J. L. Austin

> [We become obsessed with 'truth' when discussing statements, just as we become obsessed with 'freedom' when discussing conduct...Like freedom, truth is a bare minimum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/we-become-obsessed-with-truth-when-discussing-statements-just-as-we/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [Usually it is uses of words, not words in themselves, that are properly called vague.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/usually-it-is-uses-of-words-not-words-in-themselves-that-are-properly/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [The theory of truth is a series of truisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/the-theory-of-truth-is-a-series-of-truisms/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [In the one defense, briefly, we accept responsibility but deny that it was bad: in the other, we admit that it was bad but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/in-the-one-defense-briefly-we-accept-responsibility-but-deny-that-it/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [Are cans constitutionally iffy? Whenever, that is, we say that we can do something, or could do something, or could have done something, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/are-cans-constitutionally-iffy-whenever-that-is-we-say-that-we-can-do/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [The trouble is that the expression 'material thing' is functioning already, from the very beginning, simply as a foil for 'sense-datum'; it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/the-trouble-is-that-the-expression-material-thing-is-functioning/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [The beginning of sense, not to say wisdom, is to realize that 'doing an action,' as used in philosophy, is a highly abstract expression--it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/the-beginning-of-sense-not-to-say-wisdom-is-to-realize-that-doing-an/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [Is it true or false that Belfast is north of London? That the galaxy is the shape of a fried egg? That Beethoven was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/is-it-true-or-false-that-belfast-is-north-of-london-that-the-galaxy/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [Certainly ordinary language has no claim to be the last word, if there is such a thing. It embodies, indeed, something better than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/certainly-ordinary-language-has-no-claim-to-be-the-last-word-if-there/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [Our common stock of words embodies all the distinctions men have found worth drawing, and the connexions they have found worth marketing, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/our-common-stock-of-words-embodies-all-the-distinctions-men-have/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [It should be quite clear, then, that there are no criteria to be laid down in general for distinguishing the real from the not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/it-should-be-quite-clear-then-that-there-are-no-criteria-to-be-laid/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [In one sense 'there are' both universals and material objects, in another sense there is no such thing as either: statements about each can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/in-one-sense-there-are-both-universals-and-material-objects-in/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [Certainly ordinary language has no claim to be the last word, if there is such a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/certainly-ordinary-language-has-no-claim-to-be-the-last-word-if-there-2/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [I begin, then, with some remarks about 'the meaning of a word.' I think many persons now see all or part of what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/i-begin-then-with-some-remarks-about-the-meaning-of-a-word-i-think/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

> [Fact is richer than diction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-austin/fact-is-richer-than-diction/)

[J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/)

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