--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is truth?\" said jesting Pilate, and…" description: "\"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 cam..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/j-l-austin-17560_abstract_what-is-truth-said-jesting-pilate-and-wo_2082836.jpg" --- # What is truth?" said jesting Pilate, and would not stay… ![“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 eye even of a grammarian. We approach it cap and categories in hand: we ask…” quote by J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/j-l-austin-17560_abstract_what-is-truth-said-jesting-pilate-and-wo_2082836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/j-l-austin-17560_abstract_what-is-truth-said-jesting-pilate-and-wo_2082836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/j-l-austin-17560_abstract_what-is-truth-said-jesting-pilate-and-wo_2082836.jpg) > “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 eye even of a grammarian. We approach it cap and categories in hand: we ask ourselves whether Truth is a substance (the Truth, the Body of Knowledge), or a quality (something like the colour red, inhering in truths), or a relation ("correspondence"). But philosophers should take something more nearly their own size to strain at. What needs discussing rather is the use, or certain uses, of the word "true." In vino, possibly, "veritas," but in a sober symposium "verum.” [J. L. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-austin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An exploration of how the concept of truth is abstract and context‑dependent, urging focus on its practical uses rather than metaphysical definitions. **In simple terms:** Truth is abstract; focus on how we use it. Key Takeaway Consider truth’s practical applications. Themes philosophy language semantics Mood analytical thought‑provoking Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - academic debate - legal reasoning - media analysis - everyday communication - ethical discussions Key Concepts abstract nouns truth concepts pragmatic analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do you apply truth in daily decisions? - When does defining truth hinder progress? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on definition can stall action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Camels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camels/) [Caps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caps/) [Categories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/categories/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Colour red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colour-red/) [Construction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction/) [Discussing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussing/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Logical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logical/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Nouns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nouns/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Size](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/size/) [Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sober/) [Strain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strain/) [Substance Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substance-truth-641931/) [Symposium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symposium/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-abstract-1164999/) [Truth is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-is/) [Truth Substance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-substance-1058798/) [Truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths/) [Truths Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths-relation-3420553/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Vino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vino/) ## Related quotes > [“Perhaps I will be a great man...I mean perhaps I will hold on to the substance of truth and find my way always with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-hansberry/perhaps-i-will-be-a-great-man-i-mean-perhaps-i-will-hold-on-to-the/) [Lorraine Hansberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-hansberry/) > [No truth can be said to be seen as it is until it is seen in its relation to all other truths. 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The wireless window pops up, and I realize with some regret that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-goldstein/i-turn-on-my-computer-to-search-craigslist-for-apartment-listings-the/) [Jonathan Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-goldstein/) > [I like the colour red; it suits me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naby-keita/i-like-the-colour-red-it-suits-me/) [Naby Keita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naby-keita/) > [Living in the dark hiding from the light of the day yearning to see pain in the eyes of others can you feel that?...oh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/living-in-the-dark-hiding-from-the-light-of-the-day-yearning-to-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am the colour red, in a world of black and white and if you value your ability to breathe... Don't get too close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bray-wyatt/i-am-the-colour-red-in-a-world-of-black-and-white-and-if-you-value/) [Bray Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bray-wyatt/) > [The colours red, blue and green are real. The colour yellow is a mystical experience shared by everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/the-colours-red-blue-and-green-are-real-the-colour-yellow-is-a/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [More than any other colour, red is loaded for action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/more-than-any-other-colour-red-is-loaded-for-action/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [“People think blood red, but blood don't got no colour. 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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. 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