Quotes by Kenneth Burke

About Kenneth Burke:

Kenneth Duva Burke was an American literary theorist who had a powerful impact on 20th-century philosophy, aesthetics, criticism, and rhetorical theory. As a literary theorist, Burke was best known for his analyses based on the nature of knowledge. Furthermore, he was one of the first individuals to stray away from more traditional rhetoric and view literature as "symbolic action."
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Dignity belongs to the conquered.

Kenneth Burke

We not only interpret the character of events... we may also interpret our interpretations.

Kenneth Burke

Creation implies authority in the sense of originator. The possibility of a 'Fall' is implied in a Covenant insofar as the idea of a Covenant implies the possibility of its being violated.

Kenneth Burke

For no continuity of social act is possible without a corresponding social status and the many different kinds of act required in an industrial state, with its high degree of specialization, make for corresponding classification of status.

Kenneth Burke

Men seek for vocabularies that are reflections of reality. To this end, they must develop vocabularies that are selections of reality. And any selection of reality must, in certain circumstances, function as a deflection of reality.

Kenneth Burke

Our purpose is simply to ask how theological principles can be shown to have usable secular analogues that throw light upon the nature of language.

Kenneth Burke

Author Bio

  • NameKenneth Burke
  • DescriptionAmerican philosopher
  • BornMay 5, 1897
  • DiedNovember 19, 1993
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionPhilosopher; Literary Critic; Author
  • AwardsGuggenheim Fellowship