Q0084
“Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.” — Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 7)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 7. Theme: language.
English
Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 7 and files it under Analytic Philosophy. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951), born in Vienna to a wealthy industrial family, studied engineering then logic with Russell at Cambridge. The Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1921) aimed to draw limits to sense; he then left academic philosophy for years as a teacher and architect’s assistant.
How to read this passage
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Ludwig Wittgenstein and Kwasi Wiredu), language is framed through Analytic Philosophy and Africana Philosophy. Some passages define language; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through language, limits.
Concepts in this quote
- Language
- Language appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat language as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
- Limits
- Limits appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat limits as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Ludwig Wittgenstein. (n.d.). Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0084
MLA: Ludwig Wittgenstein. “Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0084.
Chicago: Ludwig Wittgenstein. “Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0084.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be…”?
The passage is attributed to Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 7. The archive attributes this English wording to Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 7 and files it under Analytic Philosophy. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Ludwig Wittgenstein mean by language?
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Ludwig Wittgenstein and Kwasi Wiredu), language is framed through Analytic Philosophy and Africana Philosophy. Some passages define language; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through language, limits.