Voltaire Quotes

Quand celui à qui l'on parle ne comprend pas et celui qui parle ne se comprend pas, c'est de la métaphysique When he to whom a person speaks does not understand, and he who speaks does not understand himself, that is metaphysics.

When we use terms we get confused, yet we have no other way.

When he to whom one speaks does not understand, and he who speaks himself does not understand, that is metaphysics.

Not understanding anything is terrible, because I communicate very much in my real life.

The trouble was that he was talking in philosophy but they were listening in gibberish.

I have not the pleasure of understanding you.

The need of reason is not inspired by the quest for truth but by the quest for meaning. And truth and meaning are not the same. The basic fallacy , taking precedence over all specific metaphysical fallacies, is to interpret meaning on the model of truth.

If we go on explaining we shall cease to understand one another.

Real philosophy is like trying to read an alarm system installation manual in Korean.

Any order that can be misunderstood, will be misunderstood

There,” she said triumphantly. “Like that.” He began to wonder if they were speaking the same language. “Like what?” “That! What you just said.” He crossed his arms. It seemed the only acceptable reply. If she couldn’t speak in complete sentences, he saw no reason why he had to speak at all.

Most of our life is miscommunication, and when you add a language barrier to it, it just becomes total mayhem and confusion... It just adds to it with all of the cultural differences. It could be an American family meeting another American family and you could still have a total clash. With family, it's like visiting another planet.

Does nobody understand?

I actually don't understand a word Paula's saying anymore. It's like a new language.

What I am trying to do is to unmuddle the metaphysical.

Inconceivable!" "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

I don't know if you have noticed this, but it is quite possible for two human beings to have a conversation in which one or both parties involved has absolutely no idea what they're talking about.

I find myself having these conversations where I go...You know, the guy, in that place. The guy in the place with the thing, you know. And it becomes this game of charades. And then finally, we realize that I mean the Pope.

I like that confusion when people are speaking in the same language but still can't understand each other. It's also usually my experience of being in America - when I speak no one can understand what I'm saying.

What [Franz] Kafka says about the Tower of Babel: In the beginning there were actually many languages, and then as a punishment God gave the world a single language. And then they stopped understanding each other.

Are you two having some sort of strange human thing that you can’t follow what I’m saying? (Simi)

Your saying 'I do not understand you' is praise beyond my worth, and an insult you do not deserve.

Egad, I think the interpreter is the hardest to be understood of the two!

A lack of communication leaves fear and doubt.