Boundaries Quote by Alan Watts
“To define is to limit, to set boundaries, to compare and to contrast, and for this reason, the universe, the all, seems to defy definition…Just as no one in his senses would look for the morning news in a dictionary, no one should use speaking and thinking to find out what cannot be spoken or thought.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Book: the, Alan Watts, 1966
Defining things imposes limits and boundaries, which cannot capture the infinite nature of reality; language cannot express what is beyond thought.
In simple terms: Definitions limit and language cannot express the infinite.
Key Takeaway
Accept mystery beyond words.
Themes
philosophy
language
mystery
Mood
contemplative
enigmatic
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- spiritual practice
- creative writing
- scientific inquiry
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
impermanence
nonduality
limits
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you experience what cannot be spoken?
- When do you rely on intuition over analysis?
A Different Perspective
Words cannot fully describe the ineffable.
![“For morning news, people want to know as they are getting dressed, as they are getting ready to leave [for work], "what has happened in the world overnight?" Morning news is a sure-fire way to find out what that is. I personally love and celebrate the fact that you can go to bed and the world is…” quote by Gayle King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7b3/gayle-king-12680_bed_for-morning-news-people-want-to-know-as_299257.jpg)
