Theme

Philosophy quotes about 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.

Why this theme matters

Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Ludwig Wittgenstein and John Stuart Mill), limits is framed through Analytic Philosophy and Utilitarianism. Some passages define limits; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language.

In the history of philosophy

Discussions of limits travel through Chinese and European modern traditions. Compare the quotations below with their school labels rather than forcing a single definition.

Thinkers in this collection

John Stuart Mill , Ludwig Wittgenstein , Zhuangzi , Friedrich Schiller , Talmudic tradition , Thomas Aquinas , Ibn Tufayl

Frequently asked questions

What did philosophers say about limits?

They disagreed in productive ways. In this archive, Ludwig Wittgenstein, John Stuart Mill, and related voices treat limits as something to clarify, cultivate, or critique—not merely to celebrate.

Where can I find philosophy quotes about limits?

This theme page gathers 9 verified English quotations tagged Limits, with links to thinkers and sources.

How should I read quotes about limits?

Read the sentence, then check school and source. A compact line is an entry point into an argument about limits, not a substitute for the surrounding text.

  1. The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs.
  2. Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.
  3. The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.
  4. My life has a limit, but knowledge has none. To pursue the limitless with the limited is perilous!
  5. Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.
  6. It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.
  7. My propositions serve as elucidations in this way: anyone who understands me eventually recognizes them as nonsensical.
  8. Whatever is received is received according to the mode of the receiver.
  9. Most people cling to the outer forms of worship; to strip those forms away suddenly only harms them.