"Human life is driven forward by its dim apprehension of notions too general for its existing language"
- Alfred North Whitehead
About this Quote
This quote by Alfred North Whitehead suggests that human life is propelled by our understanding of ideas that are too abstract for us to reveal in words. This indicates that we are continuously aiming to understand concepts that are beyond our present language and understanding. This is a reminder that our knowledge is minimal which we are continuously striving to expand our understanding of the world. It also recommends that language is a barrier to our understanding of the world, and that we should aim to break through this barrier in order to acquire a much deeper understanding of the world. This quote is a pointer that we ought to never be content with our current level of understanding, and that we ought to constantly aim to learn more. It is a pointer that our language is a tool that can assist us to comprehend the world, but that it is not the only method to acquire understanding.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"