--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have a priori reasons for believing…" description: "\"We have a priori reasons for believing that in every sentence there is some one order of words more effective than any other; and that this order is th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/herbert-spencer-1765_believe_we-have-a-priori-reasons-for-believing-t_3111008.jpg" --- # We have a priori reasons for believing that in every… ![“We have a priori reasons for believing that in every sentence there is some one order of words more effective than any other; and that this order is the one which presents the elements of the proposition in the succession in which they may be most readily put together.” quote by Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/herbert-spencer-1765_believe_we-have-a-priori-reasons-for-believing-t_3111008.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/herbert-spencer-1765_believe_we-have-a-priori-reasons-for-believing-t_3111008.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/herbert-spencer-1765_believe_we-have-a-priori-reasons-for-believing-t_3111008.jpg) > “We have a priori reasons for believing that in every sentence there is some one order of words more effective than any other; and that this order is the one which presents the elements of the proposition in the succession in which they may be most readily put together.” [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spencer argues that each sentence has an optimal word order that best conveys its meaning, based on logical arrangement of ideas. **In simple terms:** Sentences have a most effective word order. Key Takeaway Arrange words to match logical flow. Themes language logic communication Mood analytical thoughtful Type theoretical educational When to use this quote - writing - editing - teaching - public speaking Key Concepts syntax cognitive efficiency Questions to Reflect On - How does word order affect comprehension? - Can multiple orders be equally effective? A Different Perspective May overlook stylistic or cultural variations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believing Sentence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-sentence-5433013/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Priori Reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priori-reasons-5433012/) [Proposition Succession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proposition-succession-5433014/) [Propositions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propositions/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reasons Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons-believing-819364/) [Sentences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentences/) [Succession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succession/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Words Effective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-effective-4541009/) ## Related quotes > [Ironically, making a statement with words is the least effective method.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grey-livingston/ironically-making-a-statement-with-words-is-the-least-effective-method/) [Grey Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grey-livingston/) > [As words have an effective power of their own, curses reported against someone might turn against the speaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/as-words-have-an-effective-power-of-their-own-curses-reported-against/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Reasons for declaring belief is not are not the same as reasons for believing in god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/reasons-for-declaring-belief-is-not-are-not-the-same-as-reasons-for/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [And so it is they who, between them, give me all the reasons for believing in none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/and-so-it-is-they-who-between-them-give-me-all-the-reasons-for/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [In high school, I came to realize I had a second-hand faith, derived from my parents and family background. I had no actual reasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/in-high-school-i-came-to-realize-i-had-a-second-hand-faith-derived/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [People are searching for reasons for believing, searching for answers to the big existential questions of "Why am I here?" and "What is life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-morris/people-are-searching-for-reasons-for-believing-searching-for-answers/) [Jonathan Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-morris/) > [Of course, all people have their own reasons for believing what they do about gender. In my case, in over two decades of collaborating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hersch/of-course-all-people-have-their-own-reasons-for-believing-what-they/) [Michael Hersch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hersch/) > [When your reasons for believing something are justified ad hoc, you are left susceptible to further discoveries undermining the rationale for that belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/when-your-reasons-for-believing-something-are-justified-ad-hoc-you/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [There is no reason for believing that any sort of gods exist, and quite good reasons for believing that they do not exist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/there-is-no-reason-for-believing-that-any-sort-of-gods-exist-and/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“She had reasons for believing that there was a young sister living, and her greatest desire was, to help that sister.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/she-had-reasons-for-believing-that-there-was-a-young-sister-living/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“When it comes to believing in the important things in life (like love, hope, justice, peace) we have a hard time proving they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-morrison/when-it-comes-to-believing-in-the-important-things-in-life-like-love/) [Jon Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-morrison/) > [“All true believers have good reasons for disbelieving in every god except their own,' said Birbal, 'and so it is they who, between them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/all-true-believers-have-good-reasons-for-disbelieving-in-every-god/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Think hard about the reasons for believing and not believing, what your religion teaches you and demands so inexorably that you believe. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-meslier/think-hard-about-the-reasons-for-believing-and-not-believing-what/) [Jean Meslier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-meslier/) > [Our reasons for believing Jesus existed and also that He was who He claimed to be - the God who came down - are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-koukl/our-reasons-for-believing-jesus-existed-and-also-that-he-was-who-he/) [Greg Koukl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-koukl/) > [There are reasons for believing that the English increase will far surpass others, and that the diffusion of the United States will ultimately produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/there-are-reasons-for-believing-that-the-english-increase-will-far/) [Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/) ## More by Herbert Spencer > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Any piece of knowledge which the pupil has himself acquired- any problem which he has himself solved, becomes, by virtue of the conquest, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/any-piece-of-knowledge-which-the-pupil-has-himself-acquired-any/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Conservatism defends those coercive arrangements which a still-lingering savageness makes requisite. Radicalism endeavours to realize a state more in harmony with the character of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/conservatism-defends-those-coercive-arrangements-which-a-still/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Absolute morality is the regulation of conduct in such a way that pain shall not be inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/absolute-morality-is-the-regulation-of-conduct-in-such-a-way-that/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When a man's knowledge is not in order, the more of it he has the greater will be his confusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/when-a-man-s-knowledge-is-not-in-order-the-more-of-it-he-has-the/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [The cruelty of a Fijian god, who, represented as devouring the souls of the dead, may be supposed to inflict torture during the process,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-cruelty-of-a-fijian-god-who-represented-as-devouring-the-souls-of/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [The liberty the citizen enjoys is to be measured not by governmental machinery he lives under, whether representative or other, but by the paucity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-liberty-the-citizen-enjoys-is-to-be-measured-not-by-governmental/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [I had a great dislike to the annoyances entailed by baggage; and it was always with some feeling of elation that I cut myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/i-had-a-great-dislike-to-the-annoyances-entailed-by-baggage-and-it/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Progress, therefore, is not an accident, but a necessity…It is a part of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/progress-therefore-is-not-an-accident-but-a-necessity-it-is-a-part-of/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Surely in much talk there cannot choose but be much vanity. Loquacity is the fistula of the mind,--ever-running and almost incurable, let every man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/surely-in-much-talk-there-cannot-choose-but-be-much-vanity-loquacity/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [No one can be perfectly free till all are free; no one can be perfectly moral till all are moral; no one can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-one-can-be-perfectly-free-till-all-are-free-no-one-can-be/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Only when Genius is married to Science can the highest results be produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/only-when-genius-is-married-to-science-can-the-highest-results-be/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [It cannot but happen?that those will survive whose functions happen to be most nearly in equilibrium with the modified aggregate of external forces? This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/it-cannot-but-happen-that-those-will-survive-whose-functions-happen/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“Before he can remake his society, his society must make him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/before-he-can-remake-his-society-his-society-must-make-him/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) [Explore all 210 Herbert Spencer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have a priori reasons for believing that in every sentence there is some one order of words more effective than any other; and that this order is the one which presents the elements of the proposition in the succession in which they may be most readily put together.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herbert Spencer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/we-have-a-priori-reasons-for-believing-that-in-every-sentence-there/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/we-have-a-priori-reasons-for-believing-that-in-every-sentence-there/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/herbert-spencer-1765_believe_we-have-a-priori-reasons-for-believing-t_3111008.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/herbert-spencer-1765_believe_we-have-a-priori-reasons-for-believing-t_3111008.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/herbert-spencer-1765_believe_we-have-a-priori-reasons-for-believing-t_3111008.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have a priori reasons for believing that in every sentence there is some one order of words more…” — Herbert Spencer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Herbert Spencer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We have a priori reasons for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/we-have-a-priori-reasons-for-believing-that-in-every-sentence-there/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/we-have-a-priori-reasons-for-believing-that-in-every-sentence-there/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```