Life Quote by Jack London
““Definitions must agree, not with egos, but with life. Mr. Burroughs goes on the basis that a definition is something hard and fast, absolute and eternal. He forgets that all the universe is in flux; that definitions are arbitrary and ephemeral; that they fix, for a fleeting instant of time, things that in the past were not, that in the future will be not, that out of the past become, and that out of the present pass on to the future and become other things. Definitions cannot rule life. Definitions cannot be made to rule life. Life must rule definitions or else the definitions perish.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown, attributed to Jack London
Definitions are temporary constructs that cannot control the ever‑changing nature of life; life ultimately shapes or discards them.
In simple terms: Definitions are fleeting; life decides their relevance.
Key Takeaway
Adapt definitions to reality, not the reverse.
Themes
philosophy
language
change
impermanence
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- policy making
- education
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
relativism
ephemerality
ontology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance stable concepts with a fluid world?
- When should you revise a definition?
A Different Perspective
Definitions may still guide communication despite flux.
