--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Philosophy] must set limits to what can…" description: "\"“[Philosophy] must set limits to what can be thought; and, in doing so, to what cannot be thought. It must set limits to what cannot be thought by work..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/ludwig-wittgenstein-582_limits_philosophy-must-set-limits-to-what-can-b_671169.jpg" --- # \[Philosophy\] must set limits to what can be thought; and… ![“[Philosophy] must set limits to what can be thought; and, in doing so, to what cannot be thought. It must set limits to what cannot be thought by working outwards through what can be thought.” quote by Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/ludwig-wittgenstein-582_limits_philosophy-must-set-limits-to-what-can-b_671169.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/ludwig-wittgenstein-582_limits_philosophy-must-set-limits-to-what-can-b_671169.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/ludwig-wittgenstein-582_limits_philosophy-must-set-limits-to-what-can-b_671169.jpg) > ““\[Philosophy\] must set limits to what can be thought; and, in doing so, to what cannot be thought. It must set limits to what cannot be thought by working outwards through what can be thought.”” [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Limits of language shape thought; by defining what can be thought, we indirectly define what cannot. **In simple terms:** Language defines thought boundaries. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect mental limits. Themes philosophy language cognition Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical theoretical When to use this quote - academic debate - personal reflection - creative writing Key Concepts logic semantic limits epistemology Questions to Reflect On - How do language limits affect your ideas? - Can you think beyond language? A Different Perspective Limits may restrict innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) ## Related quotes > [“Your problem is in thinking the sky's the limit. Why set limits?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/your-problem-is-in-thinking-the-sky-s-the-limit-why-set-limits/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [I think the key is for women not to set any limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/i-think-the-key-is-for-women-not-to-set-any-limits/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [One of the pluses of getting older is you set some limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/one-of-the-pluses-of-getting-older-is-you-set-some-limits/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [The limits of thought are not so much set from outside, by the fullness or poverty of experiences that meet the mind, as from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-katherina-langer/the-limits-of-thought-are-not-so-much-set-from-outside-by-the/) [Susanne Katherina Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-katherina-langer/) > [Pushing the limits, to be thought provoking, pushing people to think and question the limits, it's not always bad for the rules if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/pushing-the-limits-to-be-thought-provoking-pushing-people-to-think/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I used to be bound by people who placed limits on what they thought I could do. Through that, I learned that if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-graham/i-used-to-be-bound-by-people-who-placed-limits-on-what-they-thought-i/) [Ashley Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-graham/) > [Why should a man deliberately encircle his mind with needless prison walls. No man can reach highest excellence who puts limits to his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-desmond/why-should-a-man-deliberately-encircle-his-mind-with-needless-prison/) [Arthur Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-desmond/) > [“ONE must sometimes believe what one cannot understand. That is the method of the scientist as well as the mystic: faced with a universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/one-must-sometimes-believe-what-one-cannot-understand-that-is-the/) [Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/) > [The fundamental facts about the Greek was that he had to use his mind. The ancient priest had said, "Thus far and no farther.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/the-fundamental-facts-about-the-greek-was-that-he-had-to-use-his-mind/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [“Why had she set limits like no sex? I want sex .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherise-sinclair/why-had-she-set-limits-like-no-sex-i-want-sex/) [Cherise Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherise-sinclair/) > [To object that the facts about human nature set limits on our ability to change the world and ourselves makes about as much sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/to-object-that-the-facts-about-human-nature-set-limits-on-our-ability/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The best way to make room for both life and career is to make choices deliberately-to set limits and stick to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/the-best-way-to-make-room-for-both-life-and-career-is-to-make-choices/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I don't understand why people set limits, like I will buy a house, then car, and so on. But I ask them, what after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-shukla/i-don-t-understand-why-people-set-limits-like-i-will-buy-a-house-then/) [Abhinav Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-shukla/) > [There are no rules in life. It’s a mind-set that limits people dramatically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-stiles/there-are-no-rules-in-life-it-s-a-mind-set-that-limits-people/) [Tara Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-stiles/) > [“Givers need set limits because takers rarely do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-wolchin/givers-need-set-limits-because-takers-rarely-do/) [Rachel Wolchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-wolchin/) ## More by Ludwig Wittgenstein > [“But some of the greatest achievements in philosophy could only be compared with taking up some books which seemed to belong together, and putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/but-some-of-the-greatest-achievements-in-philosophy-could-only-be/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [What can be shown, cannot be said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/what-can-be-shown-cannot-be-said/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [“This is connected with the conception of naming as a process that is, so to speak, occult. Naming seems to be a \_strange\_ connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/this-is-connected-with-the-conception-of-naming-as-a-process-that-is/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [If a lion could talk, we could not understand him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/if-a-lion-could-talk-we-could-not-understand-him/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [White must be the lightest color in a picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/white-must-be-the-lightest-color-in-a-picture/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [Freud's fanciful pseudo-explanations (precisely because they are brilliant) perform a disservice. 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(Ethics and æsthetics are one.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/it-is-clear-that-ethics-cannot-be-expressed-ethics-are-transcendental/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) [Explore all 454 Ludwig Wittgenstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) ## More Limits quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I live life without limits and I will go after anything I want with no hesitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-morgan/i-live-life-without-limits-and-i-will-go-after-anything-i-want-with/) [Liv Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-morgan/) > [The number of ways you can live in one lifetime is limitless. So why limit yourself? The sky is not the limit. Beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-number-of-ways-you-can-live-in-one-lifetime-is-limitless-so-why/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Via your talents, you can go beyond the limits!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/via-your-talents-you-can-go-beyond-the-limits/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [While the world of reality has its limits, the world of your imagination is without boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/while-the-world-of-reality-has-its-limits-the-world-of-your/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Everything in this life have limitations, so in order for you to succeed in life you need to know the limitation of everything you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-emmanuel/everything-in-this-life-have-limitations-so-in-order-for-you-to/) Bernard Emmanuel > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [If you take text and image and you put them together, the multiple readings that are possible in either poetry or in something visual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/if-you-take-text-and-image-and-you-put-them-together-the-multiple/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [We don’t want to limit what God can do in our children by trying to parent them alone—Trust God to take care of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormie-omartian/we-don-t-want-to-limit-what-god-can-do-in-our-children-by-trying-to/) [Stormie Omartian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormie-omartian/) > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The earliest language was body language and, since this language is the language of questions, if we limit the questions, and if we only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/the-earliest-language-was-body-language-and-since-this-language-is/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [True freedom is an inward state of being. Once it is attained, no situation in the world can bind one or limit one's freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/true-freedom-is-an-inward-state-of-being-once-it-is-attained-no/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [The stars are not the limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-bonta/the-stars-are-not-the-limit/) [Vanna Bonta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-bonta/) > [The ultimate goal of radical politics is gradually to displace the limit of social exclusions, empowering the excluded agents (sexual and ethnic minorities) by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/the-ultimate-goal-of-radical-politics-is-gradually-to-displace-the/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [I would like to have campaign spending limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-would-like-to-have-campaign-spending-limits/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) [Browse all 4,240 Limits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“[Philosophy] must set limits to what can be thought; and, in doing so, to what cannot be thought. 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