Hobbes Quote by John Stuart Mill
““Nevertheless, there seems good reason for adhering to the common usage, and calling (as indeed Hobbes himself does in other places) the word sun the name of the sun, and not the name of our idea of the sun. For names are not intended only to make the hearer conceive what we conceive, but also to inform him what we believe.””
About This Quote
Source Book: On Liberty by John Stuart Mill, 1859
Names should reflect common usage and shared belief, not just personal concepts, to convey both meaning and conviction.
In simple terms: Use common terms to share meaning and belief.
Key Takeaway
Choose language that aligns with common understanding.
Themes
language
communication
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- everyday conversation
- academic writing
- legal drafting
Key Concepts
semantic convention
shared belief
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance precision and common usage?
- When does shared belief become limiting?
A Different Perspective
Common usage may mask nuanced meanings.
![“[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)
