A Quote by John Ralston Saul

Dictionary: Opinion presented as truth in alphabetical order.

John Ralston Saul

Quote Topics

Alphabetical Order Dictionary Opinion Order Presented Truth

Quote Author

John Ralston Saul
Canadian - Author
Born: June 19, 1947

Dictionary - opinion expressed as truth in alphabetical order.

John Ralston Saul

Alphabetical order had to be invented to help people organize the first dictionaries. On the other hand, we may have reached a point where alphabetical order has gone obsolete. Wikipedia is ostensibly in alphabetical order, but, when you think about it, it's not in any order at all. You use a search engine to get into it.

James Gleick

A 'philosophical dictionary' is not a dictionary of philosophy that you use to look up obscure thinkers or recondite terms. It is a collection of brief and pithy essays on diverse topics, informed by one vision, and usually arranged in alphabetical order.

Ian Hacking

Dictionary: The universe in alphabetical order.

Anatole France

A dictionary is merely the universe arranged in alphabetical order.

Anatole France

My books and records are arranged according to subject, and within each subject, they're alphabetical by author or artist. The music tapes are alphabetical and the performance tapes are in chronological order.I like to control my environment, because I feel if I have my physical space in order, then I'm free to dream.

George Carlin

Someone with an obsession for arranging things in alphabetical order was an abcedist, whereas someone with an obsession for arranging them in reverse alphabetical order was a zyxedist.

Walter Moers

I didn't know the draft was in alphabetical order.

Henrik Zetterberg

Okay everybody, line up in alphabetical order according to your height.

Casey Stengel

By the grace of AEC, BNL, God, Green and Hayworth (alphabetical order), we should see neutrinos.

Leon M. Lederman

You imagine the carefully pruned, shaped thing that is presented to you is truth. That is just what it isn't. The truth is improbable, the truth is fantastic; it's in what you think is a distorting mirror that you see the truth.

Jean Rhys

In truth, opinion may be taken for understanding; understanding cannot be taken for opinion. How so? Surely because opinion may be deceived; understanding cannot be. If it could, it would not be understanding but opinion. For true understanding has not only certain truth, but the knowledge of truth.

Saint Bernard

I also wanted remembering the past relevant to the present. Some people wanted me to put the names in alphabetical order. I wanted them in chronological order so that a veteran could find his time within the panel. It's like a thread of life.