Ineffability

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the notion from set theory, see Ineffable cardinal.

To say that something is "ineffable" means that it cannot or should not, for overwhelming reasons, be expressed in spoken words. It is generally used to describe a feeling, concept or aspect of existence that is too great to be adequately described in words, or that inherently (due to its nature) cannot be conveyed in dualistic symbolic human language, but can only be known internally by individuals.

[edit] Quotations

"Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent." - Ludwig Wittgenstein
"If a person can't communicate, the very least he can do is to shut up." - Tom Lehrer
"What cannot be spoken in words, but that whereby words are spoken." - Kenopanishad
"We shall grapple with the ineffable, and see if we may not eff it after all." - Douglas Adams in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

In Zen it is often said that (by analogy) the finger can point to the moon but is not the moon; likewise words and actions can point towards what is ineffable but cannot make another know it.

[edit] Things said to be ineffable