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Many philosophers are known for a single utterance, a _______ saying
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27 Aug 2025, 07:25
27 Aug 2025, 07:25
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Many philosophers are known for a single utterance, a (i) _______ saying that long outlives them. There is often (ii) _______ in this phenomenon. While most undergraduate philosophy students can quote the 18th-century philosopher David Hume as saying "Reason is the slave of the passions," David Hume himself actually consigned this apothegm to the marginalia of his text. In all likelihood, he had (iii) _______ he had ever written any such thing.
| Blank (i) | Blank (ii) | Blank (iii) |
|---|---|---|
| A. unfocused | D. subtle wisdom | G. soon forgotten |
| B. epigrammatic | E. great irony | H. readily denied |
| C. obscure | F. wide renown | I. inadvertently conceded |
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Re: Many philosophers are known for a single utterance, a _______ saying
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29 Aug 2025, 09:00
29 Aug 2025, 09:00
Expert Reply
The correct combination of words to complete the sentence is B. epigrammatic, E. great irony, and G. soon forgotten.
Here's the breakdown:
- Blank (i): The blank describes a saying that is short, memorable, and has a lasting impact. The word epigrammatic fits this perfectly, as it refers to a concise and witty saying.
- Blank (ii): The sentence following this blank provides an example of a contradictory situation: a philosopher is remembered for a quote he himself considered unimportant, placing it in the margins of his work. This is a classic example of great irony.
- Blank (iii): Given that David Hume relegated the quote to the "marginalia," it's logical to conclude that he didn't consider it important. Therefore, it's highly likely he had soon forgotten about writing it. This completes the ironic twist of the passage.
Here's the breakdown:
- Blank (i): The blank describes a saying that is short, memorable, and has a lasting impact. The word epigrammatic fits this perfectly, as it refers to a concise and witty saying.
- Blank (ii): The sentence following this blank provides an example of a contradictory situation: a philosopher is remembered for a quote he himself considered unimportant, placing it in the margins of his work. This is a classic example of great irony.
- Blank (iii): Given that David Hume relegated the quote to the "marginalia," it's logical to conclude that he didn't consider it important. Therefore, it's highly likely he had soon forgotten about writing it. This completes the ironic twist of the passage.
gmatclubot
Re: Many philosophers are known for a single utterance, a _______ saying [#permalink]
29 Aug 2025, 09:00
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