Changed Quote by Alan Alda
“When I studied how to think in school, I was taught that the first rule of logic was that a thing cannot both be and not be at the same time and in the same respect. That last note, “in the same respect,” says a lot. As soon as you change the frame of reference, you’ve changed the truthiness of a once immutable fact.”
About This Quote
Logic’s law of non-contradiction holds only within a fixed frame; shifting perspective can alter what appears immutable.
In simple terms: Truth depends on context.
Key Takeaway
Perspective changes facts.
Themes
philosophy
logic
relativism
cognition
epistemology
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
analytical
Type
aphilosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- ethical dilemmas
- political discourse
- personal decision‑making
- scientific paradigm shifts
Key Concepts
non-contradiction
frame of reference
truth
perception
Practical Applications
- critical thinking training
- strategic communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How does changing a frame affect your conclusions?
- When might a rigid logic be limiting?
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
