Definitions Quote by William Stafford
“I am not learning definitions as established in even the latest dictionaries. I am not a dictionary-maker. I am a person a dictionary-maker has to contend with. I am a living evidence in the development of language.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Language of the Living” (collection), 1970
He rejects static definitions, seeing language as evolving and lived experience.
In simple terms: Language changes with people.
Key Takeaway
Value lived experience over rigid definitions.
Themes
language
evolution
experience
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- writing
- communication
- cultural studies
Key Concepts
linguistics
philosophy of language
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal experience shape meaning?
- When should we rely on formal definitions?
A Different Perspective
Rigid definitions can still guide clarity.
![“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)
