Human suffering has been caused because too many of us cannot grasp that words are only tools for our use. The mere presence in the dictionary of a word like 'living' does not mean it necessarily has to refer to something definite in the real world.

Richard Dawkins
About This Quote

A dictionary is not a magic book that can fix anything or put everything right. It is just a tool used to help someone find the words they need. The mere presence in the dictionary of a word like 'living' does not mean it necessarily has to refer to something definite in the real world. What defines life? A dictionary doesn't say, and neither does life.

Source: The Selfish Gene

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