Ancient Quote by Robert M. Pirsig
“Dialectic, which is the parent of logic, came itself from rhetoric. Rhetoric is in turn the child of the myths and poetry of ancient Greece. That is so historically, and that is so by any application of common sense. The poetry and myths are the response of a prehistoric people to the Universe around them made on the basis of Quality. It is Quality, not dialectic, which is the generator of everything we know.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert M. Pirsig, 1974
The passage argues that rhetoric, rooted in myth and poetry, gave rise to logic and dialectic, but true understanding stems from Quality, not logical structures.
In simple terms: Quality, not logic, generates true knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Seek Quality over mere reasoning.
Themes
philosophy
logic
mythology
quality
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- creative work
- critical thinking
Key Concepts
dialectic
rhetoric
metaphysics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you recognize Quality?
- What role does poetry play in thinking?
A Different Perspective
Quality is abstract and hard to define.
