--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am caught in a terrific bind of…" description: "\"I am caught in a terrific bind of characterologically and rationally needing to think in the most comprehensive terms possible, forming a continuous sy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/kenny-smith-2406_abstract_i-am-caught-in-a-terrific-bind-of-charac_1623873.png" --- # I am caught in a terrific bind of characterologically and… ![“I am caught in a terrific bind of characterologically and rationally needing to think in the most comprehensive terms possible, forming a continuous system of argument with a gradient that runs from concrete to abstract, and unfortunately being caught also in a culture in which hardly anyone seems…” quote by Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/kenny-smith-2406_abstract_i-am-caught-in-a-terrific-bind-of-charac_1623873.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/kenny-smith-2406_abstract_i-am-caught-in-a-terrific-bind-of-charac_1623873.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fe/kenny-smith-2406_abstract_i-am-caught-in-a-terrific-bind-of-charac_1623873.png) > “I am caught in a terrific bind of characterologically and rationally needing to think in the most comprehensive terms possible, forming a continuous system of argument with a gradient that runs from concrete to abstract, and unfortunately being caught also in a culture in which hardly anyone seems capable of applying himself to understand such a demanding form of argumentation.” [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels trapped by the need to think comprehensively while society lacks the capacity for deep, structured argumentation. **In simple terms:** Struggling to think broadly in a world that resists complex reasoning. Key Takeaway Embrace clarity and simplify arguments for broader understanding. Themes intellectual rigor communication culture education Mood frustrated determined Type reflective analytical When to use this quote - academic seminars - policy debates - team meetings - public lectures Key Concepts systems thinking gradient reasoning abstract thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can you make deep arguments accessible? - What strategies help bridge concrete and abstract thinking? A Different Perspective Complex ideas can alienate audiences if not presented access. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [(The terms douloi, banausoi and aristoi) are in a way more precise, but what is more vital and valuable, they are more comprehensive: they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-terms-douloi-banausoi-and-aristoi-are-in-a-way-more-precise-but/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [Progress and Poverty was the most closely knit, fascinating, and convincing specimen of argumentation that, I believe, ever sprang from the mind of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-brooks/progress-and-poverty-was-the-most-closely-knit-fascinating-and/) [Scott Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-brooks/) > [“Repetition of an argument proves your determination, not truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/repetition-of-an-argument-proves-your-determination-not-truth/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [If thou continuous to take delight in idle argumentation thou mayest be qualified to combat with the sophists, but will never know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-thou-continuous-to-take-delight-in-idle-argumentation-thou-mayest/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [In learning and argumentation, the quality brain is similar to a facility of maximum security. What passes the logic test, free of fallacy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/in-learning-and-argumentation-the-quality-brain-is-similar-to-a/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [When an apologist attempts to be autonomous in his reasoned argumentation he indicates that he considers God to be less certain than his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-l-bahnsen/when-an-apologist-attempts-to-be-autonomous-in-his-reasoned/) [Greg L. Bahnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-l-bahnsen/) > [“1. God is (by definition) a being than which no greater being can be thought. 2. Greatness includes greatness of virtue. 3. Therefore, God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-n-walton/1-god-is-by-definition-a-being-than-which-no-greater-being-can-be/) Douglas N. Walton > [As a science, logic institutes an analysis of the process of the mind in reasoning, and investigating the principles on which argumentation is conducted;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/as-a-science-logic-institutes-an-analysis-of-the-process-of-the-mind/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [I think sometimes younger people - not necessarily thinkers and intellectuals and the like, but people who are on social media and who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-think-sometimes-younger-people-not-necessarily-thinkers-and/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“There comes a point when careful argumentation fails, a time when we are "casting pearls before swine." As Proverbs tells us: "Don't answer a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-m-jones-iii/there-comes-a-point-when-careful-argumentation-fails-a-time-when-we/) [Douglas M. Jones III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-m-jones-iii/) > [Do not dispute with anyone in any matter as far as possible. For in argumentation lies much harm and its evil is greater than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ghazali/do-not-dispute-with-anyone-in-any-matter-as-far-as-possible-for-in/) [Al-Ghazali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ghazali/) > [Al-Ghazali is the most important philosophical theologian of classical Islam, and Moderation in Belief is among his most important works. It sets out al-Ghazali's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-adamson/al-ghazali-is-the-most-important-philosophical-theologian-of/) [Peter Adamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-adamson/) > [“Aus, vorbei. Meine fein ausgeklügelte Argumentation, die aus Ich will nicht besteht, fällt in sich zusammen. Also doch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/aus-vorbei-meine-fein-ausgekl-gelte-argumentation-die-aus-ich-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ They \[human beings\] are unwilling to gamble that God made those people who are skilled at rational argumentation uniquely virtuous. They protect themselves and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-march/they-human-beings-are-unwilling-to-gamble-that-god-made-those-people/) [James G. March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-march/) > [“An objection which applies to all conduct can be no valid objection to any conduct in particular.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/an-objection-which-applies-to-all-conduct-can-be-no-valid-objection/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) ## More by Kenny Smith > [The approach of intellect or noesis will forever be an effete and limited sort of thing by contrast with the vigor and color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-approach-of-intellect-or-noesis-will-forever-be-an-effete-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [One can hardly appreciate how academia has perverted its highest tasks and "ideals" without pondering long and hard the implications of Jacques Barzun's House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/one-can-hardly-appreciate-how-academia-has-perverted-its-highest/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [When academics claim a topic is obsolete, they mean merely they are tired of flogging it with their cliches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/when-academics-claim-a-topic-is-obsolete-they-mean-merely-they-are/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [If you look at the NBA, it's the richest and wealthiest group of African-American men in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/if-you-look-at-the-nba-it-s-the-richest-and-wealthiest-group-of/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [In late modernity we grow more and more accustomed to politicians and public figures who are indebted to their appetites for their "values," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/in-late-modernity-we-grow-more-and-more-accustomed-to-politicians-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [How infinitely happier and more grateful is the whole personality or spirit when it finds something nourishing in art or writing or thinking, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/how-infinitely-happier-and-more-grateful-is-the-whole-personality-or/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [There are a lot more famous fathers out there than me with daughters who wouldn't mind singing careers... but the talent and the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/there-are-a-lot-more-famous-fathers-out-there-than-me-with-daughters/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [Games like 'Call of Duty' and 'NBA Baller Beats' have so much to them. I was more of the 'Pac-Man' generation where we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/games-like-call-of-duty-and-nba-baller-beats-have-so-much-to-them-i/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [The Rockets have a philosophy of what they think their coach should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-rockets-have-a-philosophy-of-what-they-think-their-coach-should-be/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [I've played more park games than NBA games, and I had a 10-year NBA career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/i-ve-played-more-park-games-than-nba-games-and-i-had-a-10-year-nba/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [I'm always the neutral guy, man. I'm able to bring people together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/i-m-always-the-neutral-guy-man-i-m-able-to-bring-people-together/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [People compose the schedules they do out of the priorities they have; and someone who says otherwise is deceiving himself about what he really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/people-compose-the-schedules-they-do-out-of-the-priorities-they-have/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [There's hasn't been a day in my life since I was 9 years old that I haven't touched a basketball or done something connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/there-s-hasn-t-been-a-day-in-my-life-since-i-was-9-years-old-that-i/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [You can have your own thought process about things, but you still need to include and co-exist with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/you-can-have-your-own-thought-process-about-things-but-you-still-need/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [NCAA is looking at how to do a better job enforcing their rules instead of looking at why the predatorial environment is created. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/ncaa-is-looking-at-how-to-do-a-better-job-enforcing-their-rules/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) [Explore all 168 Kenny Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) ## More Abstract quotes > [Love is like that, fragile and light. 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It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) Anthony W. Ivins > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. 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