---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The question of relevance comes before…"
description: "\"The question of relevance comes before that of truth, because to ask whether a statement is true or false presupposes that it is relevant (so that to t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/david-bohm-4805_asks_the-question-of-relevance-comes-before-t_358041.jpg"
---

#  The question of relevance comes before that of truth…

![“The question of relevance comes before that of truth, because to ask whether a statement is true or false presupposes that it is relevant (so that to try to assert the truth or falsity of an irrelevant statement is a form of confusion).” quote by David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/david-bohm-4805_asks_the-question-of-relevance-comes-before-t_358041.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/david-bohm-4805_asks_the-question-of-relevance-comes-before-t_358041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7a/david-bohm-4805_asks_the-question-of-relevance-comes-before-t_358041.jpg)

> “The question of relevance comes before that of truth, because to ask whether a statement is true or false presupposes that it is relevant (so that to try to assert the truth or falsity of an irrelevant statement is a form of confusion).”

[David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Relevance must be established before truth; without relevance, truth claims become confusing.

**In simple terms:** First determine relevance, then truth.

Key Takeaway

Check relevance before judging truth.

Themes

philosophy logic epistemology communication critical thinking

Mood

thoughtful inquisitive

Type

theoretical philosophical

When to use this quote

- debate
- scientific research
- media analysis
- legal argument
- education curriculum

Key Concepts

relevance theory truth criteria semantic clarity

Questions to Reflect On

- What makes a statement relevant?
- How do we handle ambiguous relevance?

A Different Perspective

Relevance can be subjective and contested.

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[Confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) [Falsity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsity/) [Irrelevance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrelevance/) [Relevance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relevance/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/)

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