Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

I will only mention that I owe a great part of the stimulation of my thoughts to the magnificent works of Frege and to the labors of my friend Mr. Bertrand Russell.

If this work has value, it consists in two things. First, that thoughts are expressed in it, and this value will be the greater the better the thoughts are expressed. The more the nail has been hit on the head. — Here I am conscious of having remained far behind what is possible. Simply because my strength for mastering the task is too small. — May others come and do it better.

On the other hand, the truth of the thoughts communicated here seems to me unassailable and definitive. I am, therefore, of the opinion that the problems have been solved in essentials once and for all. And if I am not mistaken in this, then the value of this work consists secondly in the fact that it shows how little has been achieved by the fact that these problems have been solved.

Vienna, 1918

I will only mention that to the great works of Frege and the writings of my friend Bertrand Russell I owe in large measure the stimulation of my thoughts.

If this work has a value it consists in two things. First that in it thoughts are expressed, and this value will be the greater the better the thoughts are expressed. The more the nail has been hit on the head.—Here I am conscious that I have fallen far short of the possible. Simply because my powers are insufficient to cope with the task.—May others come and do it better.

On the other hand the truth of the thoughts communicated here seems to me unassailable and definitive. I am, therefore, of the opinion that the problems have in essentials been finally solved. And if I am not mistaken in this, then the value of this work secondly consists in the fact that it shows how little has been done when these problems have been solved.

Vienna, 1918

I will only mention that I am indebted to Frege’s great works and to the writings of my friend Mr. Bertrand Russell for much of the stimulation of my thoughts.

If this work has any value, it consists in two things: the first is that thoughts are expressed in it, and on this score the better the thoughts are expressed—the more the nail has been hit on the head—the greater will be its value.—Here I am conscious of having fallen a long way short of what is possible. Simply because my powers are too slight for the accomplishment of the task.—May others come and do it better.

On the other hand the truth of the thoughts that are here communicated seems to me unassailable and definitive. I therefore believe myself to have found, on all essential points, the final solution of the problems. And if I am not mistaken in this belief, then the second thing in which the value of this work consists is that it shows how little is achieved when these problems are solved.

Vienna, 1918