Robert M. Pirsig Quotes

A collection of quotes by Robert M. Pirsig.

Robert M. Pirsig (1928-2017) was an American writer and philosopher. He is best known for his influential book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values" (1974), which explores the intersection of Eastern philosophy, Western rationality, and the pursuit of quality. Pirsig's work blended autobiographical elements with philosophical reflections, captivating readers with his unique blend of storytelling and philosophical inquiry. His writings continue to inspire and challenge readers to question the nature of reality, the meaning of life, and the pursuit of personal excellence.

The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Ze

The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.

Robert M. Pirsig


The truth knocks on the door and you say, go away, I'm looki

The truth knocks on the door and you say, go away, I'm looking for the truth, and it goes away. Puzzling.

Robert M. Pirsig


To live for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of t

To live for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top.

Robert M. Pirsig


We have artists with no scientific knowledge and scientists

We have artists with no scientific knowledge and scientists with noartistic knowledge and both with no spiritual sense of gravity at all,and the result is not just bad, it is ghastly.

Robert M. Pirsig


Dialectic generally means of the nature of the dialogue, whi

Dialectic generally means of the nature of the dialogue, which is a conversation between two persons. Nowadays it means logical argumentation. It involves a technique of cross-examination, by which truth is arrived at.

Robert M. Pirsig

Truth Nature

For every fact there is an infinity of hypotheses.

For every fact there is an infinity of hypotheses.

Robert M. Pirsig

Facts Science

Sanity is not truth. Sanity is conformity to what is sociall

Sanity is not truth. Sanity is conformity to what is socially expected. Truth is sometimes in conformity, sometimes not.

Robert M. Pirsig

Truth

I think metaphysics is good if it improves everyday life; ot

I think metaphysics is good if it improves everyday life; otherwise forget it.

Robert M. Pirsig

Life

The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart a

The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there.

Robert M. Pirsig

Inspirational

He felt that institutions such as schools, churches, governm

He felt that institutions such as schools, churches, governments and political organizations of every sort all tended to direct thought for ends other than truth, for the perpetuation of their own functions, and for the control of individuals in the service of these functions. He came to see his early failure as a lucky break, an accidental escape from a trap that had been set for him, and he was very trap-wary about institutional truths for the remainder of his time.

Robert M. Pirsig

Truth

It is a puzzling thing. The truth knocks on the door and you

It is a puzzling thing. The truth knocks on the door and you say, 'Go away, I'm looking for the truth,' and so it goes away. Puzzling.

Robert M. Pirsig

Truth

Even in the presence of others he was completely alone.

Even in the presence of others he was completely alone.

Robert M. Pirsig

Alone

To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides

To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top.

Robert M. Pirsig

Future

Quality is a direct experience independent of and prior to i

Quality is a direct experience independent of and prior to intellectual abstractions.

Robert M. Pirsig

Experience

The truth knocks on the door and you say, go away, I'm looki

The truth knocks on the door and you say, go away, I'm looking for the truth, and it goes away. Puzzling.

Robert M. Pirsig

Truth

The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart a

The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands.

Robert M. Pirsig

Progress

It is always good policy to tell the truth unless of course

It is always good policy to tell the truth unless of course you are an exceptionally good liar. Jerome K. Jerome It is a puzzling thing. The truth knocks on the door and you say, go away, I'm looking for the truth. and so it goes away. Puzzling.

Robert M. Pirsig

Truth

The solutions all are simple -- after you have arrived at th

The solutions all are simple -- after you have arrived at them. But they're simple only when you know already what they are.

Robert M. Pirsig

Truth

Metaphysics is a restaurant where they give you a thirty tho

Metaphysics is a restaurant where they give you a thirty thousand page menu, and no food.

Robert M. Pirsig

Philosophy

Traditional scientific method has always been at the very be

Traditional scientific method has always been at the very best, 20 -- 20 hindsight. It's good for seeing where you've been. It's good for testing the truth of what you think you know, but it can't tell you where you ought to go.

Robert M. Pirsig

Science