Agree Quote by John Locke
“Truth then seems to me, in the proper import of the word, to signify nothing but the joining or separating of Signs, as the Things signified by them do agree or disagree one with another. The joining or separating of signs here meant, is what by another name we call proposition. So that truth properly belongs only to propositions: whereof there are two sorts, viz. mental and verbal; as there are two sorts of signs commonly made use of, viz. ideas and words.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, 1690
Truth is the alignment or misalignment of signs (ideas or words) with the things they represent; only propositions can be true or false.
In simple terms: Truth is about how ideas or words match reality.
Key Takeaway
Check if statements truly reflect reality.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
language
logic
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- everyday argument
- legal reasoning
Key Concepts
propositions
signs
ideas
words
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we ensure our language accurately reflects facts?
- What role do mental representations play in truth?
A Different Perspective
Complex language can obscure meaning.
![“[In many circumstances,] the most important thing about a proposition is not that it be true, but that it be interesting.” quote by Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4b7/alfred-north-whitehead-836_being-true_in-many-circumstances-the-most-important_298800.jpg)
![“[M]an is not permitted without censure to follow his own thoughts in the search of truth, when they lead him ever so little out of the common road.” quote by John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9bd/john-locke-814_censorship_m-an-is-not-permitted-without-censure-to_60175.jpg)
![“I will not agree to have this bill [to repeal DADT ] go forward, because our economy is in the tank.” quote by John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c2c/john-mccain-465_agree_i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-re_7321.jpg)
