George Orwell - Richard Feynman - Baruch Spinoza - Samuel Butler - Harvey Fierstein -
67,359. It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it; consequently, the defenders of every kind of regime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using the word if it were tied down to any one meaning. (Claim & Democracy & Definition) George Orwell
2,449. We can’t define anything precisely. (Science & Definition) Richard Feynman, The Feynman Lectures
69,709. A definition, if it is to be called perfect, must explain the inmost essence of a thing, and must take care not to substitute for this any of its properties. Baruch Spinoza
69,710. A definition is the enclosing a wilderness of idea within a wall of words. Samuel Butler, English novelist 1835-1902
69,711. Accept no-one’s definition of your life; define yourself. Harvey Fierstein