--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Definitions are the foundation of reason…" description: "\"Definitions are the foundation of reason. You can't reason without them.\" — Robert M. Pirsig" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/robert-m-pirsig-817_definitions_definitions-are-the-foundation-of-reason_2840783.png" --- # Definitions are the foundation of reason. You can't reason… ![“Definitions are the foundation of reason. You can't reason without them.” quote by Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/robert-m-pirsig-817_definitions_definitions-are-the-foundation-of-reason_2840783.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/robert-m-pirsig-817_definitions_definitions-are-the-foundation-of-reason_2840783.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/robert-m-pirsig-817_definitions_definitions-are-the-foundation-of-reason_2840783.png) > “Definitions are the foundation of reason. You can't reason without them.” [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reason depends on clear definitions; without them, logical thought cannot function. **In simple terms:** Reason needs clear definitions to work. Key Takeaway Define terms before arguing. Themes logic definition reasoning Mood analytical critical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - debates - education - technical writing Key Concepts philosophy cognitive science Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure definitions are shared? - What happens when definitions shift? A Different Perspective Definitions can be contested, limiting reasoning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [Definitions Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions-foundation-3723059/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Foundation Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation-reason-1731964/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-reason/) ## Related quotes > [Emotion is the foundation of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/emotion-is-the-foundation-of-reason/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [99 per cent of your life recognises things without definition, a baby recognises its mother's face without having it defined. It's just an arbitrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/99-per-cent-of-your-life-recognises-things-without-definition-a-baby/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“The heart has reason that reason doesn't know of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-jace/the-heart-has-reason-that-reason-doesn-t-know-of/) [Cameron Jace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-jace/) > [“But there’s a reason. There’s a reason. There’s a reason for this, there’s a reason education sucks, and it’s the same reason that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/but-there-s-a-reason-there-s-a-reason-there-s-a-reason-for-this-there/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [I'll not listen to reason... reason always means what someone else has got to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/i-ll-not-listen-to-reason-reason-always-means-what-someone-else-has/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“What I believe is that when it comes to big things in life, there are no accidents. Everything happens for a reason. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/what-i-believe-is-that-when-it-comes-to-big-things-in-life-there-are/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [You can smile for no reason , but you can't cry for no reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvija/you-can-smile-for-no-reason-but-you-can-t-cry-for-no-reason/) [Silvija](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvija/) > [If someone hates you for no reason, GIVE them a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-sayward/if-someone-hates-you-for-no-reason-give-them-a-reason/) [Zoe Sayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-sayward/) > [There are many reason why I can't be with you, but there is still one reason why I can't let you go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhay-babista/there-are-many-reason-why-i-can-t-be-with-you-but-there-is-still-one/) [Jhay Babista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhay-babista/) > [I am here for a reason and my reason is you nikki :\*](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan/i-am-here-for-a-reason-and-my-reason-is-you-nikki/) [Ayaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan/) > [Why you need a reason for everything? Reason is something people say to make sense of things that don't make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-olsen/why-you-need-a-reason-for-everything-reason-is-something-people-say/) [Gregg Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-olsen/) > [Now it is characteristic of play that one plays without reason and there must be no reason for it. Play is its own good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/now-it-is-characteristic-of-play-that-one-plays-without-reason-and/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [The heart knows reason which reason does not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-scott/the-heart-knows-reason-which-reason-does-not-know/) [Lucas Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-scott/) > [Love's reason's without reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-s-reason-s-without-reason/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Always reason behind the reason even if we dont know what the reason, but it will soon become clear asto why the reason”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherubeagleeyes/always-reason-behind-the-reason-even-if-we-dont-know-what-the-reason/) [cherubEagleEyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherubeagleeyes/) ## More by Robert M. Pirsig > [“And from time to time you find your “county road” takes you onto a two-rutter and then a single rutter and then into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/and-from-time-to-time-you-find-your-county-road-takes-you-onto-a-two/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“I started to roll over for more sleep but heard a rooster crowing and then became aware we are on vacation and there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-started-to-roll-over-for-more-sleep-but-heard-a-rooster-crowing-and/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The Buddha, the Godhead, resides quite as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-buddha-the-godhead-resides-quite-as-comfortably-in-the-circuits/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Even though quality cannot be defined, you know what quality is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/even-though-quality-cannot-be-defined-you-know-what-quality-is/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [I suppose philosophy is historically not a woman's game, though that is changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-suppose-philosophy-is-historically-not-a-woman-s-game-though-that/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Up until my first book was published, I had all this potential, people would say, and I screwed up. After it, I could say:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/up-until-my-first-book-was-published-i-had-all-this-potential-people/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [There is a perennial classical question that asks which part of the motorcycle, which grain of sand in which pile, is the Buddha. Obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/there-is-a-perennial-classical-question-that-asks-which-part-of-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Of the value traps, the most widespread and pernicious is value rigidity. This is an inability to revalue what one sees because of commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/of-the-value-traps-the-most-widespread-and-pernicious-is-value/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Historically mystics have claimed that for a true understanding of reality metaphysics is too “scientific”. Metaphysics is not reality. Metaphysics is names about reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/historically-mystics-have-claimed-that-for-a-true-understanding-of/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“What’s emerging from the pattern of my own life is the for belief that the crisis is being caused by the inadequacy of existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/what-s-emerging-from-the-pattern-of-my-own-life-is-the-for-belief/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [To speak of certain government and establishment institutions as 'the system' is to speak correctly . . . They are sustained by structural relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/to-speak-of-certain-government-and-establishment-institutions-as-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [If a revolution destroys a systematic government, but the systematic patterns of thought that produced that government are left intact, then those patterns will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/if-a-revolution-destroys-a-systematic-government-but-the-systematic/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-only-zen-you-can-find-on-the-tops-of-mountains-is-the-zen-you/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Only social patterns can control biological patterns, and the instrument of conversation between society and biology is not words. The instrument of conversation between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/only-social-patterns-can-control-biological-patterns-and-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Even in the presence of others he was completely alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/even-in-the-presence-of-others-he-was-completely-alone/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Explore all 351 Robert M. Pirsig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) ## More Definitions quotes > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/) [Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/) > [ The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/before-i-had-kids-i-thought-you-should-never-lie-to-a-kid-but-now-i/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [my definition of the ideal man is 'that particular man with whom a woman happens to be in love at that particular time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/my-definition-of-the-ideal-man-is-that-particular-man-with-whom-a/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [My briefest ever definition of science fiction is 'Hubris clobbered by Nemesis.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/my-briefest-ever-definition-of-science-fiction-is-hubris-clobbered-by/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [Was man made stupid to see his own stupidity? Is God by definition indifferent, beyond us all? Is the eternal truth man's fighting soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eberhart/was-man-made-stupid-to-see-his-own-stupidity-is-god-by-definition/) [Richard Eberhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eberhart/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-accumulation-of-all-powers-legislative-executive-and-judiciary-in/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“I'm going to use them to track him down and thwart him." "Thwart?" Sarissa asked. "Thwart." I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-m-going-to-use-them-to-track-him-down-and-thwart-him-thwart-sarissa/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [A design may be called organic when there is an harmonious organization of the parts within the whole, according to structure, material, and purpose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-noyes/a-design-may-be-called-organic-when-there-is-an-harmonious/) [Eliot Noyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-noyes/) > [Of Rhetoric various definitions have been given by different writers; who, however, seem not so much to have disagreed in their conceptions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-rhetoric-various-definitions-have-been-given-by-different-writers/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) [Browse all 2,047 Definitions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Definitions are the foundation of reason. 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