---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Testimony gives something to be…"
description: "\"Testimony gives something to be interpreted.\" — Paul Ricoeur"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/paul-ricoeur-16430_gives_testimony-gives-something-to-be-interpre_3174838.jpg"
---

#  Testimony gives something to be interpreted.

![“Testimony gives something to be interpreted.” quote by Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/paul-ricoeur-16430_gives_testimony-gives-something-to-be-interpre_3174838.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/paul-ricoeur-16430_gives_testimony-gives-something-to-be-interpre_3174838.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/paul-ricoeur-16430_gives_testimony-gives-something-to-be-interpre_3174838.jpg)

> “Testimony gives something to be interpreted.”

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Interpretation requires testimony as a basis, which must be examined and understood.

**In simple terms:** Testimony needs interpretation.

Key Takeaway

Critically assess testimonies.

Themes

interpretation testimony philosophy

Mood

analytical thoughtful

Type

philosophical academic

When to use this quote

- legal testimony
- historical analysis
- personal narratives

Key Concepts

Hermeneutics epistemology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do we verify testimony?
- What influences our interpretation?

A Different Perspective

Testimony may be biased or incomplete.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Testimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testimony/)

## Related quotes

> [Contemporary paganism gives me a subjective lens through which the world in which I live can be interpreted on an aesthetic and an ethical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-williams/contemporary-paganism-gives-me-a-subjective-lens-through-which-the/)

[Liz Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-williams/)

> [Testimony should be a philosophical problem and not limited to legal or historical contexts where it refers to the account of a witness who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/testimony-should-be-a-philosophical-problem-and-not-limited-to-legal/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [If a symbol should be discovered in a painting of mine, it was not my intention. It is a result I did not seek.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-chagall/if-a-symbol-should-be-discovered-in-a-painting-of-mine-it-was-not-my/)

[Marc Chagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-chagall/)

> [I have a slight controversy with the Dogme brethren because I've been saying that rules are to be interpreted; not that I haven't followed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-bier/i-have-a-slight-controversy-with-the-dogme-brethren-because-i-ve-been/)

[Susanne Bier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-bier/)

> [The experience of being understood, versus interpreted, is so compelling you can charge admission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-joseph-pine-ii/the-experience-of-being-understood-versus-interpreted-is-so/)

[B. Joseph Pine II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-joseph-pine-ii/)

> [An interpreter must give his blood to the work interpreted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-interpreter-must-give-his-blood-to-the-work-interpreted/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The domination of the public way in which things have been interpreted has already decided upon even the possibilities of being attuned, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-heidegger/the-domination-of-the-public-way-in-which-things-have-been/)

[Martin Heidegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-heidegger/)

> [I don't care if it's a Cole Porter song, or George Gershwin, or Lennon/McCartney, or Elton John, or you know, whoever, Bob Dylan. Great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oates/i-don-t-care-if-it-s-a-cole-porter-song-or-george-gershwin-or-lennon/)

[John Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oates/)

> [My childhood was marked by seizures, which my family interpreted as temper tantrums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-fraser/my-childhood-was-marked-by-seizures-which-my-family-interpreted-as/)

[Sylvia Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-fraser/)

> [Why in the world would you have it interpreted by nine lawyers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/why-in-the-world-would-you-have-it-interpreted-by-nine-lawyers/)

[Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/)

> [Well, I always say the law was meant to be interpreted in a lenient manner. And that's what I try to do, is sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-ravetch/well-i-always-say-the-law-was-meant-to-be-interpreted-in-a-lenient/)

Irving Ravetch

> [Secularism is a term interpreted in many different ways by different people. For me, it has always been something very simple - putting India…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/secularism-is-a-term-interpreted-in-many-different-ways-by-different/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [A screenplay is really an instruction manual, and it can be interpreted in any number of ways. The casting, the choice of location, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/a-screenplay-is-really-an-instruction-manual-and-it-can-be/)

[David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/)

> [The Icesave matter is complex and it is understandable that the issue has been oversimplified by many. Unfortunately some of the basic facts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-siguroardottir/the-icesave-matter-is-complex-and-it-is-understandable-that-the-issue/)

[Johanna Siguroardottir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-siguroardottir/)

> [There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-is-no-plausible-theory-under-which-the-record-of-the-pentagon/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

## More by Paul Ricoeur

> [If it is true that there is always more than one way of construing a text, it is not true that all interpretations are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/if-it-is-true-that-there-is-always-more-than-one-way-of-construing-a/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [What must be the nature of the world... if human beings are able to introduce changes into it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/what-must-be-the-nature-of-the-world-if-human-beings-are-able-to/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [Although there has always been a hermeneutic problem in Christianity, the hermeneutic question today seems to us a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/although-there-has-always-been-a-hermeneutic-problem-in-christianity/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [But myth is something else than an explanation of the world, of history, and of destiny. Myth expresses in terms of the world -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/but-myth-is-something-else-than-an-explanation-of-the-world-of/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [But myth is something else than an explanation of the world, of history, and of destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/but-myth-is-something-else-than-an-explanation-of-the-world-of-2/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [Man is this plural and collective unity in which the unity of destination and the differences of destinies are to be understood through each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/man-is-this-plural-and-collective-unity-in-which-the-unity-of/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [There was a wise old owl who sat in a tree The less he spoke the more he heard The more he heard the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/there-was-a-wise-old-owl-who-sat-in-a-tree-the-less-he-spoke-the-more/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [Wisdom finds its literary expression in wisdom literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/wisdom-finds-its-literary-expression-in-wisdom-literature/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [There has always been a hermeneutic problem in Christianity because Christianity proceeds from a proclamation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/there-has-always-been-a-hermeneutic-problem-in-christianity-because/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [It is always possible to argue against an interpretation, to confront interpretations, to arbitrate between them and to seek for an agreement, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/it-is-always-possible-to-argue-against-an-interpretation-to-confront/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [Hope, insofar as it is hope of resurrection, is the living contradiction of what it proceeds from and what is placed under the sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/hope-insofar-as-it-is-hope-of-resurrection-is-the-living/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [Testimony should be a philosophical problem and not limited to legal or historical contexts where it refers to the account of a witness who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/testimony-should-be-a-philosophical-problem-and-not-limited-to-legal/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [The narrative constructs the identity of the character, what can be called his or her narrative identity, in constructing that of the story told.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/the-narrative-constructs-the-identity-of-the-character-what-can-be/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [Narrative identity takes part in the story's movement, in the dialectic between order and disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/narrative-identity-takes-part-in-the-story-s-movement-in-the/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

> [“The dictionary contains no metaphors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/the-dictionary-contains-no-metaphors/)

[Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

[Explore all 39 Paul Ricoeur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/)

## More Gives quotes

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [Baseball gives a growing boy self poise and self reliance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-spalding/baseball-gives-a-growing-boy-self-poise-and-self-reliance/)

Al Spalding

> [When I get home, I'm not the boss like I am at work - I slip into a more feminine role. I take everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/when-i-get-home-i-m-not-the-boss-like-i-am-at-work-i-slip-into-a-more/)

[Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/)

> [I like L.A. because of the light. The light makes me feel so good. It's really beautiful. And there's something about L.A. being so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/i-like-l-a-because-of-the-light-the-light-makes-me-feel-so-good-it-s/)

[David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/)

> [That's what film can do in a way that TV and other long-form storytelling can't. It gives you this very immersive moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-chandor/that-s-what-film-can-do-in-a-way-that-tv-and-other-long-form/)

[J. C. Chandor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-chandor/)

> [Through the music I hope to give it an arc that gives it a greater sense of a journey through the set rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotye/through-the-music-i-hope-to-give-it-an-arc-that-gives-it-a-greater/)

[Gotye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotye/)

> [I have a large watch collection, and classic watches are especially important to me. I had a silver Rolex, and I actually gave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-have-a-large-watch-collection-and-classic-watches-are-especially/)

[Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/)

> [When you wake up and learn to love yourself and want to take care of yourself, things are harder because people don't like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/when-you-wake-up-and-learn-to-love-yourself-and-want-to-take-care-of/)

[Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/)

> [Nobody gives another penny for the selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-the-veil/nobody-gives-another-penny-for-the-selfish/)

[Pierce The Veil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-the-veil/)

> [A women can only take so much until she finally gives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-women-can-only-take-so-much-until-she-finally-gives/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There are some fine books and essays about that. Lewis Hyde has written about alcoholism and poets and the role that society gives its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-olds/there-are-some-fine-books-and-essays-about-that-lewis-hyde-has/)

[Sharon Olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-olds/)

> [A strong sense of identity gives man an idea he can do no wrong; too little accomplishes the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djuna-barnes/a-strong-sense-of-identity-gives-man-an-idea-he-can-do-no-wrong-too/)

[Djuna Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djuna-barnes/)

> [Obama can't change his cool disposition, though it would be nice if he lost the vaguely grudging air he gives off that problems of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/obama-can-t-change-his-cool-disposition-though-it-would-be-nice-if-he/)

[Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/)

> [Concentration of wealth yields concentration of political power. And concentration of political power gives rise to legislation that increases and accelerates the cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/concentration-of-wealth-yields-concentration-of-political-power-and/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Life gives so much , we are the one don't receive it ,,,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norden/life-gives-so-much-we-are-the-one-don-t-receive-it/)

[Norden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norden/)

Browse all 986 Gives quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Testimony gives something to be interpreted.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Paul Ricoeur"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/testimony-gives-something-to-be-interpreted/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Gives"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/testimony-gives-something-to-be-interpreted/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/paul-ricoeur-16430_gives_testimony-gives-something-to-be-interpre_3174838.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/paul-ricoeur-16430_gives_testimony-gives-something-to-be-interpre_3174838.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/paul-ricoeur-16430_gives_testimony-gives-something-to-be-interpre_3174838.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Testimony gives something to be interpreted.” — Paul Ricoeur",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Paul Ricoeur",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Testimony gives something to be interpreted.",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/testimony-gives-something-to-be-interpreted/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/testimony-gives-something-to-be-interpreted/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
