Definitions quotes
788 quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.
Explore further
Browse quotes that often appear alongside definitions — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.
Quote collection
Follow a thought to its author, or read the full quote page.
"Everyone is motivated a little or a lot to do something or nothing. Motivation is the internalized drive toward the dominant thought of the moment. By definition, motivation is "motive in action.""
"The very definition of the innate hollowness of leading a political life when you end up on your nearest and dearest moments or most personal evenings with donors. That should - that should tell you all you need to know about the ramble that is politics."
"In my definition of consciousness, consciousness is the same thing as life. What wisdom traditions also call spirit."
"In my definition I am a protest writer, with restraint."
"Analytic It is clear that the definition of "logic" or "mathematics" must be sought by trying to give a new definition of the old notion of "analytic" propositions."
"A few rules include all that is necessary for the perfection of the definitions, the axioms, and the demonstrations, and consequently of the entire method of the geometrical proofs of the art of persuading."
"A definition may be very exact, and yet go but a very little way towards informing us of the nature of the thing defined."
"What you think about expands. If your thoughts are centered on what's missing, then what's missing, by definition, will have to expand."
"The definition of courage is going from defeat to defeat with enthusiasm."
"Everybody has a different definition of the good side."
"I'm sometimes called a 'documentary photographer' but... a man operating under that definition could take a sly pleasure in the disguise. Very often I'm doing one thing when I'm thought to be doing another."
"I can be whatever it takes to be a folksinger. Folk music to me, if we had to have a definition, is portable music. A lot of what I do is flash, gesture, athletics, but what it comes down to is getting across a melody that will help it stick to your ribs, and being able to take it from town to town."
"My definition of country music is really pretty simple. It's when someone sings about their life and what they know, from an authentic place."
"The majority of a society is the true definition of the public."
"This was the definition of eternity; it was the space of time devised by the Great God Om to ensure that everyone got the punishment that was due to them."
"There are, almost by definition, an unlimited number of Hells - potentially at least a personal one for every living sapient being."
"By definition, risk-takers often fail. So do morons. In practice it's difficult to sort them out."
"If you don't like your definition of 'good enough', then feel free to change that, but the goal before shipping is merely that. Not perfect."
"If I had to embrace a definition of success, it would be that success is making the best choices we can ... and accepting them."
"God is beyond definition. But according to one's own vision or receptivity, one will define God in one's own way. Some will say that God is all Love. Others will say that God is all Power. Each one will see God according to his own necessity, his own receptivity and, finally, according to the way God wants him to see the ultimate Truth."
