Defined Quote by Peter Farb
“The dictionary is a closed system in which someone interested in the meaning of a word can go around and around and end up exactly where he started, simply because words are defined in terms of other words, and these, in turn, are defined in terms of still other words.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Word Origins and the Search for Meaning, Peter Farb, 1990
Language definitions are circular; seeking a word’s meaning leads back to the same starting point because words define each other.
In simple terms: Words define each other, creating circular definitions.
Key Takeaway
Accept that some meanings are relational, not absolute.
Themes
language
philosophy
semantics
epistemology
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- dictionary use
- linguistic analysis
- philosophical debate
- education
- AI language models
Key Concepts
circularity
referential loops
semantic networks
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we break circularity in definitions?
- Can context provide true meaning?
A Different Perspective
Circular definitions can limit precise understanding without external context.
![“The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a [person] postulates as being a greater totality than [oneself] can become a symbol of the self. For this reason the symbol of the self is not always as total as the definition would require.” quote by Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/251/carl-jung-274_defined_the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-t_7148.jpg)
