Expected Quote by John Stuart Mill
““is not to be expected that there should be agreement about the definition of any thing, until there is agreement about the thing itself.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: On Liberty, John Stuart Mill, 1859
Agreement on definitions cannot be reached until there is consensus on the underlying concept itself.
In simple terms: Define things only after agreeing on what they are.
Key Takeaway
Clarify underlying concepts before debating definitions.
Themes
communication
philosophy
agreement
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- legal drafting
- academic debate
- policy making
- education
Key Concepts
conceptual analysis
semantic clarity
Questions to Reflect On
- What core concepts need clarification in your field?
- How can we build shared understanding?
A Different Perspective
People often argue over words without shared meaning.
![“[For people] to refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is the same thing as absolute certainty. All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility.” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c53/john-stuart-mill-477_doubt_for-people-to-refuse-a-hearing-to-an-opi_63929.jpg)
