Blades Quote by Remy de Gourmont
“The human mind is so complex and things are so tangled up with each other that, to explain a blade of straw, one would have to take to pieces an entire universe. A definition is a sack of flour compressed into a thimble.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: La Vie des idées, 1901
Complexity of mind and language means explaining a tiny part requires encompassing the whole, and definitions are overly compressed.
In simple terms: Explaining small things needs huge context; definitions are too brief.
Key Takeaway
Embrace broader context when defining.
Themes
complexity
language
definition
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- teaching
- communication
- creative writing
Key Concepts
philosophy
semantics
holism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we capture nuance without overwhelming detail?
- When is brevity more valuable than completeness?
A Different Perspective
Definitions can oversimplify and mislead.
