Q0085
“My propositions are elucidatory in this way: he who understands me finally…” — Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 6.54)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 6.54. Theme: understanding.
English
My propositions are elucidatory in this way: he who understands me finally recognizes them as nonsensical…He must surmount these propositions; then he sees the world rightly.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 6.54 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.
Interpretation
Wittgenstein's later position, in contrast to the Tractatus, treats understanding as a capacity shown in use rather than a state accompanying a sentence. To understand an expression is to be able to go on correctly — to apply it in new cases in ways a community of users would accept. The criterion is therefore public and behavioural, not private. This is why understanding cannot be, on his account, an inner process one simply has.
Why it matters
It gives a test: if you cannot apply it in a new case, you probably do not have it, whatever the feeling of comprehension was.
Concepts in this quote
- Understanding
- Understanding appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat understanding as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
- Nature
- Philosophy quotes about nature ask what the cosmos is, how humans belong in it, and whether “natural” can guide ethics or politics.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Ludwig Wittgenstein. (n.d.). My propositions are elucidatory in this way: he who understands me finally recognizes them as nonsensical…He must surmount these propositions; then he sees the world rightly. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0085
MLA: Ludwig Wittgenstein. “My propositions are elucidatory in this way: he….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0085.
Chicago: Ludwig Wittgenstein. “My propositions are elucidatory in this way: he….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0085.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “My propositions are elucidatory in this way: he…”?
The passage is attributed to Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 6.54. The archive attributes this English wording to Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 6.54 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 understanding?
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably G. W. This passage enters that discussion through understanding, nature.